U.S.
Department of State, Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act of
2000: Trafficking in Persons Report (2001).

I. Introduction

A Growing Phenomenon

Trafficking in persons is
a fundamental and crucially important challenge in the areas of human
rights and law enforcement. Based on reliable estimates, as the Congress
has noted, at least 700,000 persons, especially women and children, are
trafficked each year across international borders. Some observers estimate
that the number may be significantly higher. Victims are forced to toil
in sweatshops, construction sites, brothels, and fields. Deprived of the
enjoyment of their human rights, many victims are subjected to threats
against their person and family, violence, horrific living conditions,
and dangerous workplaces. Some victims have answered advertisements believing
that they will have a good job awaiting them in a new country. Others
have been sold into this modern-day form of slavery by a relative, acquaintance,
or family friend. Trafficking occurs across borders and within countries.
It is found in both developed and developing nations, in countries where
the government abuses human rights, and in countries where the government's
human rights record is generally excellent.

Root causes of trafficking
include greed, moral turpitude, economics, political instability and transition,
and social factors. Many traffickers are involved in other transnational
crimes. Criminal groups choose to traffic in human beings as well because
it is high-profit and often up to now low risk, because unlike other "commodities"
people can be used repeatedly, and because trafficking does not require
a large capital investment. They have little respect for the rights or
dignity of their victims.

Many trafficking victims fall
prey to this practice because they seek a better life or enhanced economic
opportunities. They are, therefore, vulnerable to false promises of good
jobs and higher wages. Political instability, militarism, civil unrest,
internal armed conflict, and natural disasters may result in an increase
in trafficking. The destabilization and displacement of populations increase
their vulnerability to exploitation and abuse through trafficking and
forced labor. War and civil strife may lead to massive displacements of
populations, leaving orphans and street children extremely vulnerable
to trafficking.

In some countries, social
or cultural practices contribute to trafficking--for example, the devaluation
of women and girls in society, and the practice of entrusting poor children
to more affluent friends or relatives. Some parents sell their children,
not just for the money, but in the hopes that the children will be escaping
a poverty situation, and move to a place where there will be a better
life and more opportunities. The fear of HIV/AIDS also influences traffickers,
as children become more attractive to them and to their customers due
to the belief that the children are free from the disease.

The Offense and its Victims

It is within this context
of growing international concern and action to combat trafficking of persons
that Congress passed the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection
Act of 2000 (the "Act"), P.L. 106-386. The Act requires that by June 1
the Secretary of State submit a report to Congress with respect to the
status of severe forms of trafficking in persons. The Act defines "severe
forms of trafficking in persons" as

(a) sex trafficking in
which a commercial sex act is induced by force, fraud, or coercion,
or in which the person induced to perform such act has not attained
18 years of age; or (b) the recruitment, harboring, transportation,
provision, or obtaining of a person for labor or services, through
the use of force, fraud or coercion for the purpose of subjection
to involuntary servitude, peonage, debt bondage, or slavery.

For the purpose of this report,
the term "trafficking" refers to actions that fall within this definition.

As an underground criminal
activity, the scope of trafficking is difficult to measure accurately.
In some countries, particularly transit countries, it is difficult to
distinguish between alien smuggling and trafficking. The mere facilitation
of illegal entry into a country is not considered trafficking, unless
it meets the Acts definition, for example because it involves force,
fraud, or coercion. Further difficulty in measuring the scope of the problem
arises from the fact that many victims come from countries in which the
authorities are a source of fear rather than of assistance, and victims
are often reluctant to seek help once they fall into the hands of traffickers.
In some countries, the victims themselves are prosecuted and jailed for
violating immigration or other laws. Moreover, traffickers may threaten
victims or their families.

The problem of trafficking
in persons is not new--it is in many ways a modern-day form of slavery,
which has persisted into the twenty-first century. Yet it is only in the
past several years that the contemporary manifestation of this problem
has captured international governmental attention, and that governments
have begun to address it systematically. It is telling that even some
countries that are pro-active and meet the Acts minimum standards
for addressing trafficking still have a significant trafficking problem--a
reminder that the world has a long way to go to stop this horrific practice.
Governments need strong individual and collective action to combat this
phenomenon and to bring those responsible to justice. The immensity of
the problem simply overwhelms the capabilities of some countries, and,
without collective action by other origin, transit and destination countries,
the best intentions of a country may not suffice to meet the minimum standards.

U.S. Commitment

The U.S. is principally a
transit and destination country for trafficking in persons. It is estimated
that 45,000 to 50,000 people, primarily women and children, are trafficked
to the U.S. annually. The U.S. Government is strongly committed to combating
trafficking in persons at home and abroad. The Act enhances pre-existing
criminal penalties, affords new protections to trafficking victims, and
makes available certain benefits and services to victims of severe forms
of trafficking; establishes a Cabinet-level federal interagency task force
to investigate and prosecute trafficking, and establishes a federal pilot
program to provide services to trafficking victims. The U.S. government
recognizes the need to sustain and further enhance our efforts in order
to achieve the goals and objectives of the Act.

The U.S. Department of State
began monitoring trafficking in persons in 1994, when the issue began
to be covered in the Departments Annual Country Reports on Human
Rights Practices. Originally, coverage focused on trafficking of women
and girls for sexual purposes. Our understanding of the problem has broadened
over the years, and U.S. embassies worldwide now routinely monitor and
report on cases of trafficking in men, women, and children for forced
labor in agriculture, domestic service, construction work, and sweatshops,
as well as trafficking for commercial sexual exploitation.

The U.S. has initiated many
international anti-trafficking and development programs to assist countries
combat this ever-growing phenomenon. These initiatives demonstrate the
United States commitment to preventing persons from becoming victims
of trafficking; protecting the victims of trafficking; and, prosecuting
traffickers. Our development programs include disseminating information
on the dangers of trafficking, strengthening the capacity of womens
and anti-trafficking organizations to protect those groups from abuse
and violence, and outreach and economic opportunity programs for those
most at risk of being trafficked. The U.S. has assisted countries to enact
anti-trafficking legislation, and train law enforcement, prosecutors and
judicial officers.

The Report

In preparing this report,
the Department of State in Washington asked for information from our embassies
and consulates around the world. Worldwide 186 U.S. embassies and consulates
in consultation with host governments devoted substantial time and attention
compiling and reporting information about the extent of trafficking in
their host countries and efforts undertaken by host governments' to address
the problem. The embassy reports reflect discussions with host governments,
local non-governmental organizations ("NGOs"), immigration officials,
police, journalists, and victims, in addition to reviews of government,
press, and NGO reports. The State Department's Bureau for International
Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs; the Bureau of Democracy, Human
Rights, and Labor; the regional bureaus; and the Office of the Legal Adviser,
with assistance from the intelligence community, reviewed reporting from
U.S. embassies and consulates overseas. The Department also reviewed information
from other sources including, but not limited to, UNICEF, UNHCR, the International
Organization for Migration, Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International,
the Protection Project, and media reports. Other U.S. Government agencies
have also provided further information on trafficking for this report.
The report covers events through April 15, 2001.

Methodology

Department of State officials
developed a rigorous methodology to compile the three lists of countries
in this report. First, based upon information from all of the sources
described above, reviewers from the bureaus listed above determined whether
each country merited inclusion on any of the reports three lists.
For each country, this determination depended upon whether or not it is
"a country of origin, transit, or destination for a significant number
of victims" of trafficking. In order to support a finding that a country
has a "significant number" of trafficked victims, the Department required
credible reporting that provided numbers of victims. Based on the information
available this year, only numbers in the hundreds or higher were considered
significant.

Many countries do not appear
in this report. For some such countries around the world in which evidence
exists to indicate that trafficking occurs, the evidence does not indicate
a significant number of victims. Additionally, while U.S. embassies and
consulates and the Department have made every effort to obtain as much
information as possible, including when some officials of a country may
be complicit, the crime of trafficking in persons is often under-reported
and obscured from official view. Finally some countries may not be included
because of a paucity of available information, which may be the case for
various reasons.

It is our hope that this report
will focus new attention on this problem everywhere so countries around
the world develop mechanisms to detect and stop trafficking efforts. The
Department and our embassies around the world will continue to monitor
trafficking and host governments efforts to combat it in all countries
including those not in this report, and will continue to seek new channels
of information. Accordingly, such countries may appear in future annual
reports, and countries now appearing may be dropped from the report.

As a second step, countries
that have a "significant number" of victims were then placed into one
of the reports three tiers based upon these countries governments
efforts to combat trafficking. In accordance with the Act, countries whose
governments fully comply with the Acts minimum standards for the
elimination of trafficking were placed in tier
1. Countries whose governments do not fully comply with those standards
were then placed in tier
2 if they are making "significant efforts to bring themselves
into compliance" with the standards, or in tier
3 if they are not. Each tier encompasses a wide range of countries.

Minimum Standards

The Act defines "minimum standards
for the elimination of trafficking" as follows:

The government should prohibit
trafficking and punish acts of trafficking.

The government should prescribe
punishment commensurate with that for grave crimes, such as forcible
sexual assault, for the knowing commission of trafficking in some of
its most reprehensible forms (trafficking for sexual purposes, trafficking
involving rape or kidnapping, or trafficking that causes a death).

For knowing commission
of any act of trafficking, the government should prescribe punishment
that is sufficiently stringent to deter, and that adequately reflects
the offenses heinous nature.

The government should make
serious and sustained efforts to eliminate trafficking.

The Act also sets out seven
criteria that "should be considered" as indicia of the fourth point above,
"serious and sustained efforts to eliminate trafficking:"

Whether the government
vigorously investigates and prosecutes acts of trafficking within its
territory.

Whether the government
protects victims of trafficking, encourages victims assistance
in investigation and prosecution, provides victims with legal alternatives
to their removal to countries where they would face retribution or hardship,
and ensures that victims are not inappropriately penalized solely for
unlawful acts as a direct result of being trafficked.

Whether the government
has adopted measures, such as public education, to prevent trafficking.

Whether the government
cooperates with other governments in investigating and prosecuting trafficking.

Whether the government
extradites persons charged with trafficking as it does with other serious
crimes.

Whether the government
monitors immigration and emigration patterns for evidence of trafficking,
and whether law enforcement agencies respond appropriately.

Whether the government
vigorously investigates and prosecutes public officials who participate
in trafficking, and takes all appropriate measures against such officials
who condone trafficking.

The Act also states three
factors that the Department is to consider in determining whether a country
is making significant efforts to bring itself into compliance with these
minimum standards. These considerations are: 1) the extent of trafficking
in the country; 2) the extent of governmental noncompliance with the minimum
standards, particularly the extent to which government officials have
been complicit in trafficking; and 3) what measures are reasonable to
bring the government into compliance with the minimum standards in light
of the governments resources and capabilities.

Tiers

Countries1 are
included in the report because they have a significant number of victims.
Countries were placed in tier
1 because they fully comply with the law's minimum standards. Such
countries criminalize and have successfully prosecuted trafficking, and
have provided a wide range of protective services to victims. In addition,
their governments sponsor or coordinate prevention campaigns aimed at
stemming the flow of trafficking. Some of these governments face resource
constraints and other obstacles to combating trafficking, but are working
to stop this practice to the best of their ability.

The Act states that those
countries should be placed in tier
2 that do not yet fully comply with the Acts minimum standards
but are making significant efforts to bring themselves into compliance
with those standards. Some are strong in the prosecution of traffickers,
but provide little or no assistance to victims. Others work to assist
victims and punish traffickers, but have not yet taken any significant
steps to prevent trafficking. Some governments are only beginning to address
trafficking, but nonetheless have already taken significant steps.

According to the Act, countries
in tier
3 do not fully comply with the minimum standards and are not
making significant efforts to bring themselves into compliance. Some of
these countries refuse to acknowledge the trafficking problem within their
territory. On a more positive note, several other countries in this category
are beginning to take concrete steps to combat trafficking. While these
steps do not yet reach the level of significant under the statute, many
of these countries are on the right path to placement on tier
2.

A problem was posed by several
countries in which rebel groups engage in trafficking within territory
that they control, for example, forcing children to become soldiers or
laborers, or to provide sexual services to rebels. In these cases, the
trafficking problem may be entirely beyond the governments control,
and the government may be unable to take many steps, along the lines of
the Acts "minimum standards," to combat that problem. In such cases,
this report categorizes countries primarily based on what steps, if any,
governments have taken to assist these victims. In several cases, while
a government indirectly combats traffickers through armed struggle with
rebel groups, it is at the same time providing direct services and assistance
to victims.

According to the Act, beginning
with the 2003 report, countries on the Tier
3 list will be subject to certain sanctions, principally termination
of non-humanitarian, non-trade-related assistance. Such countries would
also face U.S. opposition to assistance (except for humanitarian, trade-related,
and certain development-related assistance) from international financial
institutions, specifically the International Monetary Fund and multilateraldevelopment banks such as the World Bank. Certain of the sanctions
may be waived under certain circumstances, including upon a national interest
determination by the President.

Steps Toward Solutions

Trafficking is a problem that
has reached staggering dimensions around the globe. Solving this problem
and bringing relief to its many victims are possible only through cooperative
efforts. This cooperation must occur bilaterally and multilaterally among
various governments, but also between governments and non-governmental
organizations. It must involve governmental coordination on national counter-trafficking
strategies as well as coordination at a local level for example, between
local police and NGOs that provide services to victims. Destination countries
must work with transit and source countries to stem the flow of trafficking;
and source countries must work not only to prevent trafficking, but also
to help with the reintegration of trafficked victims back into their home
society.

The UN Protocol to Prevent,
Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children,
which supplements the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime
adopted by the UN General Assembly in November 2000, is an important new
tool to facilitate international cooperation. Governments that sign and
ratify this protocol make a commitment to criminalize trafficking and
to protect its many victims. The United States and 80 other countries
signed the Protocol in December 2000.

Two other international instruments
that address sale and trafficking in children have also recently been
adopted  International Labor Organization (ILO) Convention 182 concerning
the Prohibition and Immediate Action for the Elimination of the Worst
Forms of Child Labour (which the United States ratified in December 1999),
and the Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on Sale
of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography (which the United
States signed in July 2000).

Conclusion

This report clearly demonstrates
that most governments are in fact taking steps to curb this horrific practice,
and to help the hundreds of thousands of men, women, and children who
are its victims. We must continue to develop our prevention, protection,
and prosecution programs and policies to ensure that this modern-day form
of slavery does not continue long into the twenty-first century. In listing
countries in this initial Report it is not our intention to criticize
or penalize countries efforts to combat this scourge. Rather we
hope that by highlighting the problem, the need for domestic recognition
and action, and the high degree of international attention being given
to developing new mechanisms for cooperation, so that reports in the near
future will demonstrate improvements in efforts to combat trafficking
in persons.

_________________

1Under section
4(b) of the Taiwan Relations Act, "[w]henever the laws of the United States
refer or relate to foreign countries, nations, states, governments, or
similar entities, such terms shall include and such laws shall apply with
respect to Taiwan."

Austria is a destination and
transit country for women trafficked primarily for the purpose of sexual
exploitation from Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, the Czech Republic, Slovakia,
Hungary, and the Balkans, into Austria and other western European countries.
Women also are trafficked from Asia and Latin American for domestic labor.

The Government of Austria
meets the minimum standards in combating trafficking in persons. A trafficking
law provides for penalties commensurate with those for rape. However,
NGO's have called for an expansion of the legal definition of trafficking
to include exploitation for domestic labor and coerced marriages. In 1999
over half of the 49 trafficking complaints filed under the law against
trafficking for prostitution resulted in convictions. The Ministry of
Interior estimates that most traffickers are prosecuted under criminal
law provisions on alien smuggling. In 1999 there were 2,949 cases filed
under the Aliens Act and 374 convictions. The Government provides temporary
residence to victims of trafficking who are prepared to testify or intending
to raise civil law claims. The Government funds research on the problem
of trafficking as well as NGO prevention efforts, including anti-trafficking
brochures and law enforcement workshops. The Government also provides
funding for intervention centers that provide emergency housing and psychological,
legal, and health-related assistance to victims. During its EU Presidency
in 1999, the Government co-hosted a conference about trafficking for over
21 countries. The Government is also active with UN and OSCE international
efforts against trafficking.

Belgium (Tier 1)

Belgium is a transit and destination
country for trafficked persons primarily from sub-Saharan Africa (especially
Nigeria), Central and Eastern Europe (especially Albania), and Asia (especially
China). Victims are primarily young women trafficked for purposes of prostitution
or, in the case of victims from China, young men destined for manual labor
in restaurants and sweatshops.

The Government of Belgium
meets the minimum standards for combating trafficking in persons. A 1995
law specifically prohibits trafficking in persons. The penalty for trafficking
is commensurate with those for rape or sexual assault. The Government
actively investigates and prosecutes cases of trafficking. From January
1, 1998, through August 31, 1999, the authorities issued arrest warrants
for 429 persons. In the same period, verdicts were rendered in 142 cases,
104 of which resulted in convictions. Sentences averaged from 2 to 6 years'
imprisonment and fines were between $2,200 and $22,700. Victims of trafficking
are given temporary residence for 45 days to decide whether to testify
in court against the perpetrators. During this time they are allowed access
to a range of services and shelter provided by three NGOs with Government
support. The Government assists victims in returning to their country
of origin if they decide not to testify in court. Victims who agree to
testify receive a temporary work authorization and continued assistance
from the designated NGOs. Victims who cooperate with the investigation
are usually granted permanent residence in Belgium upon completion of
the trial. The Government works closely with and provides funding to NGOs
and international organizations for anti-trafficking activities.

Canada (Tier 1)

Canada is a primarily a transit
and destination country for trafficking in persons, primarily from East
Asia (especially China and Korea), Eastern Europe, Russia, and Honduras.
There are also isolated cases of Canadian minors trafficked by pimps to
the United States for the purpose of sexual exploitation. Victims of trafficking
who come to Canada are young women trafficked for purposes of prostitution
or persons destined for manual labor in restaurants, sweatshops, and agricultural
work.

The Government of Canada meets
the minimum standards in combating trafficking in persons. The law does
not specifically prohibit trafficking, but the Government actively investigates
and prosecutes trafficking cases using sections of the criminal code and
immigration law. In Toronto alone, officials conducted over 700 arrests
for trafficking-related crimes in 2000. The penalties used for trafficking
are commensurate with those for rape or sexual assault, although aggravated
sexual assault carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. An interdepartmental
working group on trafficking in women coordinates national efforts. Victims
may apply for permanent residence under the "Humanitarian and Compassionate"
provisions of the Immigration Act. The Government provides funding for
victim assistance programs in Canada and supports prevention efforts in
source countries through NGOs in Canada. Victims may be deported
if they have committed a crime. Canada does not have standardized protection
provisions for foreign minors.

Colombia (Tier 1)

Colombia is a source country
for trafficked persons, especially women and children, to Asia (Japan,
Singapore, and Hong Kong), Western Europe (the Netherlands and Spain),
and the United States. Most victims are young women trafficked for purposes
of sexual exploitation.

The Government of Colombia
meets the minimum standards to combat trafficking in persons despite resource
constraints and an inefficient judicial system. A new anti-trafficking
law is scheduled to go into effect in July 2001. The new penalty for trafficking
is commensurate with the penalty for rape or sexual assault. The Government
actively investigates and prosecutes cases of trafficking. Between 1998
and 2000, a special sex crimes unit within the Prosecutor Generals
office investigated 99 cases of trafficking which resulted in at least
13 convictions using existing statutes. The National Police rescued 115
victims in Colombia and abroad from 1999 to 2000. Government officials
with NGO representatives arrange to meet returning victims at the airport.
Victims do have access to generally limited government social services.
The Government has also instructed its consulates in foreign countries
to provide legal and social assistance to victims of trafficking and has
contracted 46 legal advisors and 16 social workers to help Colombian victims
abroad. The Government participates in anti-trafficking prevention efforts,
and works closely with other governments, international organizations,
and NGOs.

Germany (Tier 1)

Germany is primarily a transit
and destination country for women and girls trafficked from Ukraine, Poland,
Russia, and other states of the former Soviet Union and Central Europe
for purposes of sexual exploitation. Victims often are trafficked through
Germany to other EU countries.

The Government meets the minimum
standards to combat trafficking in persons. The law specifically prohibits
trafficking in persons, and the penalty for trafficking is commensurate
with those for rape or sexual assault. The Government actively investigates
and prosecutes cases of trafficking. According to the Federal Office for
Criminal Investigation, 257 cases of trafficking were investigated at
federal and state levels in 1999. Of those, 176 cases were prosecuted,
which resulted in 133 convictions. The federal government provides specialized
training to police on trafficking. The Federal Ministry for Family, Seniors,
Women, and Youth (Family Ministry) heads the Interagency Working Group
on Trafficking in Women. The Family Ministry also provides support to
the Coordination Networks (abbreviated KOK in German) work with
victims assistance. KOK is an umbrella organization of 30 NGO's
working on trafficking. Victims of trafficking are granted a 4-week grace
period during which they are allowed access to services and shelter. Officials
are required to notify a cooperating NGO and secure the services of a
counselor for the victim. A victim can be deported after 4 weeks if the
victim is not willing or able to testify against the perpetrator. In this
case, the victim is deported with the help of a cooperating NGO in the
country of origin. The Government, through its embassies, disseminates
information brochures about German residency and work permit requirements,
womens crisis centers, health care, and the threat of trafficking.
Additionally, the federal government sponsors conferences and networking
meetings for institutions aiding victims of trafficking.

Hong Kong (Tier 1)

Hong Kong is primarily a transit
location for the trafficking of persons, although the full extent of trafficking
is not clear. About 50 million travelers go to or through Hong Kong annually.
Authorities make several thousand arrests annually for immigration violations
by persons transiting or present in Hong Kong. About three-fourths are
from elsewhere in China; most of the remainder are from the Philippines
and South Asia. Some foreign domestic workers, particularly from Indonesia,
have been recruited abroad and brought to Hong Kong only to be placed
in coercive working and living conditions. There have also been reports
that some women from Vietnam have been brought to Hong Kong as "mail-order
brides," who, once in Hong Kong, are vulnerable to exploitation. The authorities
are aware of both these problems and have taken steps to remedy them.

Hong Kong meets the minimum
standards and is making significant efforts to combat trafficking. Hong
Kong has had a long history of stringent anticorruption rule of law tradition
and practices. The Government's efforts to combat trafficking are part
of broader efforts to combat alien smuggling. Government authorities regularly
monitor illegal migration and human smuggling through Hong Kong's air
and seaports and coordinate with the People's Republic of China and foreign
governments. Immigration, customs, and police departments are well trained
and equipped to detect and investigate trafficking-related criminal activities.
The Customs Department deploys over 1,500 officers at the airport, boundary
control points, container terminals, and Hong Kong waters to combat human
smuggling. The police force continuously patrols land and sea boundaries
to ensure border integrity and aggressively investigates triad involvement
in organized migrant smuggling. Although Hong Kong does not have a specific
anti-trafficking law, the Government prosecutes violators under various
laws prohibiting trafficking-related activities. The Government prints
and distributes widely pamphlets in numerous languages explaining the
rights of and services available to foreign domestic workers. Trafficking
victims usually are deported, rather than formally charged. However, legal
aid is available to those who choose to pursue legal proceedings against
an employer and immunity from prosecution is often made available to those
who assist in investigation and prosecution of traffickers. The Government
does not provide funding to foreign or domestic NGO's for services to
victims.

Italy (Tier 1)

Italy is a destination country
and, to a lesser extent, a transit route for trafficked women from Albania,
Eastern Europe, the New Independent States, China, Nigeria, and South
America.

The Government of Italy meets
the minimum standards for combating trafficking in persons. There is no
specific law that prohibits trafficking; however, law enforcement authorities
use penal codes that prohibit exploitation of prostitution (with a penalty
of up to 6 years and significant fines), slavery, and assisting the entry
of an illegal alien. The Government prosecuted 500 persons in 1998-99
for crimes connected with trafficking and convicted more than 100 defendants;
many cases were continuing at the time of this report. The Government
provides specialized training to sensitize police to trafficking and distinguish
between trafficking and smuggling. The Government has sponsored NGO anti-trafficking
campaigns such as hotlines, posters, and television advertisements. The
Government works closely with NGOs and sponsors anti-trafficking
training in the source countries of Albania and Nigeria. The Government
Inter-Ministerial Committee on Trafficking has coordinated conferences
sponsored by the Ministries of Interior and Justice to combat trafficking.
In February 2000, the Department of Equal Opportunity announced funding
for 49 national projects designed to assist victims. The Government provides
temporary residence to victims, has safe houses and shelters, and sponsors
mobile units to provide medical and psychological services to victims.
The Government also cooperates in international efforts against trafficking.

The Netherlands (Tier 1)

The Netherlands is a destination
and transit country for trafficked women and girls from around the world,
including Nigeria, Thailand, China, South America, and countries of Central
Europe; victims are trafficked primarily for sexual exploitation purposes.
According to the Dutch Foundation Against Trafficking in Women, there
are between 2,000 and 3,000 trafficked women in the Netherlands.

The Government meets the minimum
standards to combat trafficking in persons. The law prohibits trafficking
in persons for sexual exploitation purposes. The penalty for trafficking
is approximately commensurate with penalties for rape or sexual assault;
however, additional penalties under other laws can be applied in addition
to the trafficking penalty. The Government actively investigates and prosecutes
cases of trafficking. For example, from 1997 through the first half of
2000, there were 418 cases reported to the office of the prosecutor. Of
these, 253 cases were tried in court, resulting in 216 convictions. No
information on actual sentencing was available at the time of this report.
Victims of trafficking have a 3-month period to consider pressing charges
against the perpetrator(s), during which time the victim may receive services,
shelter, and social security benefits. If a victim decides not to press
charges, the victim is repatriated, and the reason for expulsion does
not appear on the victims identity papers. A victim may be eligible
for permanent residency on humanitarian grounds in situations of extreme
distress. The Government works closely with and provides anti-trafficking
funding to domestic and international NGOs.

Spain (Tier 1)

Spain is a destination and
transit country for trafficked women. Trafficking is almost exclusively
for the purpose of sexual exploitation, although there is also trafficking
for forced labor in agriculture and sweatshops. Trafficking victims come
from the Western Hemisphere (including Colombia, the Dominican Republic,
and Brazil), Sub-Saharan Africa (Nigeria, Guinea, and Sierra Leone), northern
Africa and Eastern Europe.

The Government of Spain meets
the minimum standards. Immigration law specifically prohibits the act
of trafficking, and the penalty is commensurate with the penalty for rape
or sexual assault. The Government actively investigates and prosecutes
cases of trafficking. For example, in 2000 police arrested over a thousand
individuals involved in some aspect of trafficking in persons or migrant
smuggling. Although statistics on convictions for trafficking are unavailable,
the authorities prosecuted 119 persons for the crime of "illegal trafficking
in persons," 577 persons for "illegal trafficking in workers," and 312
persons for forcing women (Spanish or foreign) into prostitution. The
Government supports anti-trafficking public information campaigns within
the country, and provides development assistance to source countries,
primarily in Latin America. Undocumented persons, including trafficked
persons, are eligible to receive temporary residence if they agree to
testify against the perpetrators. At the conclusion of legal proceedings,
these witnesses may remain in Spain or return to their country of origin.
Undocumented persons may receive medical assistance in emergency situations.
Undocumented persons may be detained for up to 40 days during deportation
hearings, and are entitled to free legal assistance. The Government works
with and provides funding to NGOs assisting trafficked victims.

Switzerland (Tier 1)

Switzerland is primarily a
destination country for trafficked women, and is also a transit country.
The number of women trafficked into Switzerland is increasing. Most of
the women trafficked for purposes of sexual exploitation originate from
former Eastern bloc and Soviet countries, including the Balkan countries,
Hungary, Russia, Ukraine, Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia. A decreasing
number of women are from Thailand, the Dominican Republic, Brazil, and
Colombia, and some African countries such as Cameroon.

The Government of Switzerland
meets the minimum standards and is taking significant additional steps
at the federal level to combat trafficking. The law criminalizes trafficking
in persons for purposes of sexual exploitation. The penalties for trafficking
are commensurate with those for rape and sexual assault. The Government
actively investigates and prosecutes cases of trafficking. Approximate
statistics available at the time of this report indicate that from 1998-2000,
the authorities investigated an average of 30 cases per year under the
law prohibiting human trade, with an average of four convictions each
year. In addition, the approximately 70 cases investigated annually under
"encouragement to prostitution," with 29 convictions in 1998 (the latest
period for which information was available) probably include traffickers.
Since 1905, Switzerland has had a government office designated to combat
trafficking of girls for the purpose of commercial sexual exploitation,
which has evolved to include all forms of trafficking. Since 1993, the
law on aid to victims has offered aid to crime victims through counseling
and protection, and has safeguarded victims' rights in criminal prosecutions
with special rules for trial procedures and for compensation and redress.
While cantonal police authorities often rapidly deport women charged with
illegal prostitution, federal police are encouraging them to delay deportation
to allow for counseling of trafficking victims and to increase the likelihood
that victims may testify against traffickers. The Federal Police Office
regularly exchanges information with NGOs on networks, transit routes,
and other trafficking trends. Federal and regional governments provide
NGOs with funding for services to victims. The Government has pilot
programs at embassies in source countries, such as Thailand, to educate
visa applicants about trafficking risks. In response to a March 2000 parliamentary
motion, the Federal Council (Cabinet) appointed an interagency working
group to assess anti-trafficking and victim protection measures.

Taiwan (Tier 1)

Taiwan is a destination point
for internationally trafficked persons. Some young women from Southeast
Asia, primarily China and Thailand, are trafficked for the purpose of
sexual exploitation. Many enter Taiwan by gaining entry permits
through sham marriages. A small number of fugitive girls are trafficked
internally for sexual exploitation. Thai, Filipino, and Indonesian
men sometimes face coercive employment situations created through the
repayment of excessive broker fees from employment agencies.

The Taiwan authorities meet the minimum standards for combating trafficking.
A number of laws incorporate anti-prostitution and some anti-trafficking
elements; however, the legislature has not passed laws specific to trafficking.
Authorities reportedly prosecuted two trafficking cases during 2000. Foreign
victims of trafficking who have violated Taiwan's immigration laws are
repatriated as quickly as possible. Authorities provide funding
to NGO's working with prostitutes and government social welfare agencies
assist foreign workers who encounter abusive employment conditions.
If a child prostitute is involved, the police contact a social worker
to assist the victim. Police are trained in handling trafficking,
prostitution, and cases of domestic violence. Because Taiwan does
not have diplomatic relations with most countries, formal cooperation
on trafficking cases is not possible. Taiwan is ineligible for membership
in the United Nations, and therefore cannot become a party to UN conventions,
although the authorities make every effort to abide by the principles
of the major UN anti-trafficking conventions, some of which have been
incorporated in domestic laws and regulations.

United Kingdom (Tier 1)

The United Kingdom (UK) is
a destination country for trafficked men, women, and girls. A Government-sponsored
report estimates that up to 1,500 women and girls are trafficked into
the UK annually for purposes of sexual exploitation from Eastern Europe
and the Balkans, South America, Nigeria, Thailand, and Vietnam. Although
there are no reliable data as to the numbers of victims, men, women, and
children from the Indian sub-continent, Sri Lanka, Turkey, the former
Yugoslavia, Romania, China, Congo, Angola, Colombia, and Ecuador also
are trafficked to the UK; labor exploitation occurs primarily in agriculture,
sweatshops, and industry.

The Government meets the minimum
standards to combat trafficking in persons. The law does not specifically
criminalize the act of trafficking; however, there is a range of other
relevant laws that are used to prosecute perpetrators. The Government
actively investigates and prosecutes cases of trafficking. For example,
according to a 2000 Government-sponsored report, of eight trafficking
cases involving sexual exploitation prosecuted in 1998, seven resulted
in convictions and one case still was pending at the time of the report's
release. Police and prosecutors can arrange for temporary residence status
for victims, as well as legal, medical and psychological services. Victims
are not treated as criminals nor are they detained, jailed, or deported.
The Government funds foreign and domestic NGOs working on anti-trafficking
issues, and has supported domestic efforts to establish NGOs addressing
assistance to victims. The Government supports prevention programs especially
through its missions overseas. For example, it distributes anti-trafficking
literature and videos in the Balkans and other source countries. There
is no formal interagency mechanism; however, the relevant agencies do
coordinate their anti-trafficking efforts.

IV. Country Narratives - Tier 2

Angola (Tier 2)

Angola is a country of origin
for trafficked persons. The National Union for the Total Independence
of Angola (UNITA) rebel forces are alleged to abduct children, who are
used for forced labor and in military service, and women, who are used
for forced labor, including as sex slaves.

The Government of Angola does
not yet fully meet the minimum standards; however, the Government is making
significant efforts to combat trafficking despite limited resources and
a continued military campaign against insurgents. The on-going civil war,
which has displaced nearly a quarter of the population, has left the Government
unable to exercise complete control over a large portion of the country,
and government efforts to combat trafficking focus on aid and assistance
to victims. The Ministry of Social Reinsertion (MINARS) works with UNICEF
and NGO's to provide treatment and housing for freed children. For example,
in March 2000, MINARS worked with several NGO's and UNICEF to trace and
reunite 42 separated children with their families. The Government established
a program for resettlement and reintegration of rebels who put down their
arms. A military liaison in each province/military district is responsible
for coordinating with NGO's, including groups that assist refugees and
trafficking victims. The 1991 Constitution prohibits human bondage; however,
no legislation exists to enforce this prohibition. There is neither a
senior official nor intra-governmental mechanism to coordinate anti-trafficking
measures, and the Government has not conducted a prevention campaign.

Bangladesh (Tier 2)

Bangladesh is a country of
origin for internationally trafficked persons, primarily women and children.
Several thousand women and girls are trafficked annually from Bangladesh
for the purpose of sexual exploitation, primarily to India, Pakistan,
and the Middle East. Boys also are trafficked to the Middle East, where
they are engaged as camel jockeys.

The Government of Bangladesh
does not yet fully meet the minimum standards; however, the Government
is making significant efforts to combat trafficking despite severe resource
constraints and corruption. The Government has recognized that trafficking
in persons is a national problem, has enacted anti-trafficking legislation,
and has endeavored to arrest and prosecute traffickers. The law prohibits
trafficking, and penalties for trafficking are commensurate with those
for rape. Arrests are publicized in the press, and there were three convictions
of traffickers in 2000. There is no evidence of government complicity
with traffickers, but rampant corruption among police, border, and immigration
officials severely undermines law enforcement efforts. The Government
is working to address police corruption and abuses by offering human rights
training to senior officers, particularly to the chiefs of the various
police training centers. This training includes the issue of trafficking
in persons. The treatment of victims is generally humane; trafficked persons
are not detained, jailed, deported, or prosecuted for violations of immigration
or prostitution laws. However, in an effort to combat trafficking, in
1998 the Government placed restrictions on Bangladeshi women traveling
abroad to work as domestic servants for non-Bangladeshi employers. Bangladeshi
women are permitted to travel abroad for other types of employment, or
to work as domestic servants for Bangladeshi expatriates. Active local
NGO's, largely funded by foreign donors, combat trafficking through awareness
campaigns and provide shelters for some victims. The Government is cooperative
with and supportive of the efforts of NGO's and civil society organizations,
but resource constraints, lack of interagency coordination, backlogged
courts, corruption, and poor training pose obstacles to effective efforts
to protect victims and prosecute traffickers.

Benin (Tier 2)

Benin is a source, transit,
and destination for trafficked persons, primarily children. Trafficking
also occurs within Benin. Beninese children are trafficked to Ghana, Nigeria,
and Gabon for indentured or domestic servitude, farm labor, and prostitution.
Children from Niger, Togo, and Burkina Faso have been trafficked to Benin
for indentured or domestic servitude. Internal trafficking of children
within Benin takes place in connection with the forced servitude practice
called "vidomegon," whereby poor, often rural, families place a child,
primarily a daughter, in the home of a more wealthy family to avoid the
burden the child represents to the parental family. The children work,
but the arrangement is voluntary between the two families.

The Government of Benin does
not yet fully meet the minimum standards; however, the Government is making
significant efforts to combat trafficking. The Government is severely
limited by a lack of resources but does recognize that trafficking is
a problem. There is no law specifically prohibiting trafficking; however,
the Government can prosecute traffickers under other statutes. To prevent
trafficking, the Government is working with international organizations
to increase literacy rates, diversify the economy, and improve health
care. In July 2000, the Government created interministerial bodies under
the direction of the Ministry of Justice to coordinate governmental efforts
to protect the rights of children. The Government is participating in
a two-part ILO trafficking project with eight other countries (Burkina
Faso, Cameroon, Cote D'Ivoire, Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal, and Togo). Benin
also has bilateral agreements with Togo, Gabon, and Nigeria, which focus
on border control and repatriation of trafficking victims. Despite bilateral
agreements, porous borders and widespread poverty in the rural areas,
from which Beninese child trafficking victims originate, hamper enforcement
efforts.

Brazil (Tier 2)

Brazil is a source country
for victims of both domestic and international trafficking. The majority
of Brazilian trafficking victims are women and girls who are trafficked
for the purpose of sexual exploitation to Europe, Japan, Israel, and the
United States. Young men are most often trafficked domestically in the
agricultural labor market; however, they also have been trafficked as
athletes to Europe. These men are then subjected to humiliating conditions
or coerced into other areas of exploitation such as prostitution. Occasionally
women are employed as domestic servants in conditions amounting to involuntary
servitude. Trafficking for labor purposes of rural Brazilians and, in
some cases, immigrant laborers, also occurs in urban areas of Brazil.

The Government of Brazil does
not yet fully meet the minimum standards; however, it is making significant
efforts to combat trafficking despite resource constraints and a lack
of coordination between the federal and state levels. On the local level,
corruption has in some cases hampered enforcement efforts. The Criminal
Code prohibits some, but not all, severe forms of trafficking in persons.
The penalties for trafficking are roughly commensurate with the penalty
for rape or sexual assault. The Government actively investigates and prosecutes
cases of trafficking. Between 1996 and 2000, courts convicted 94 individuals
or groups of trafficking. As of early 2001, approximately 85 trafficking
cases were under investigation. While victims of trafficking are not treated
as criminals, access to shelter and to legal, medical and psychological
services may as a practical matter be very limited due to a lack of government
resources. The Government supports various programs to combat trafficking,
including public information campaigns and an inter-ministerial campaign
against the sexual exploitation of minors, and it works closely with a
number of NGOs on issues of trafficking and forced labor. In November
2000, Brazil hosted the first international conference of the United Nations
Office for Drug Control and Crime Prevention on trafficking in human beings.

Bulgaria (Tier 2)

Bulgaria is a source and transit
country for trafficking. Women from Romania, Moldova, Russia, Ukraine,
Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia are trafficked for sexual exploitation
to Macedonia, Greece, Turkey, Kosovo, Bosnia, Italy, Poland, and Western
Europe.

The Government of Bulgaria
does not yet fully meet the minimum standards; however, the Government
is making significant efforts to combat trafficking despite a lack of
resources and low-level corruption. The Government does not have specific
trafficking laws but can use other provisions to prosecute trafficking.
Penalties are commensurate with those for rape. The Government does investigate
trafficking, encourages victims to testify, and has two police units dedicated
to the problem. Statistics on prosecutions are unavailable, but it appears
that few, if any, traffickers have been prosecuted yet. No government
programs exist for prevention or protection of victims; however, the Government
provides in-kind assistance to NGOs, and refers victims to NGO's
for repatriation. NGO's have noted that Bulgarias Embassy in the
major trafficking destination of Warsaw assists trafficking victims and
collaborates closely with NGO's on the issue. The Government cooperates
with other governments to combat trafficking through bilateral agreements
and information sharing.

Burkina Faso (Tier 2)

Burkina Faso is a source,
transit, and destination country for internationally trafficked persons,
including children. Burkina Faso is an occasional source country for women
who travel to Europe to work as domestics, but, upon their arrival, are
exploited sexually. Burkina Faso is a transit country for trafficked children,
notably from Mali. Children in transit from Mali are often destined for
Cote D'Ivoire. Trafficked Malian children are also destined for Burkina
Faso. Destinations for trafficked Burkinabe children include Cote D'Ivoire,
Ghana, and Nigeria. In 1999 there were reports of trafficked Burkinabe
children destined for Germany.

The Government of Burkina
Faso does not yet fully meet the minimum standards; however, the Government
is making significant efforts to combat trafficking despite severe resource
constraints. There is no law that specifically criminalizes the act of
trafficking, but a range of other relevant laws may be used to prosecute
traffickers. The Constitution specifically prohibits slavery, inhumane
treatment, torture, and mistreatment of children and adults. The Penal
Code prohibits kidnapping, violence, and mistreatment of children. The
Government prosecutes rape, kidnapping, and pandering cases, and the penalties
are generally commensurate with those for rape. The Government has established
two centers to help with the social reintegration of at-risk children.
The Ministry of Social Affairs has on occasion provided short-term assistance
to repatriated minors. In addition, the Government works with local and
international NGOs. The Government, in cooperation with the ILO,
formulated a National Action Plan Against Child Labor that incorporates
efforts to sensitize the population to the problem of child labor, including
trafficking.

Cambodia (Tier 2)

Cambodia is a source, destination,
and transit country for trafficked persons. Trafficking is both domestic
and international. Cambodian men, women, and children are trafficked internationally,
principally to Thailand for the purpose of sexual exploitation and for
various forms of bonded labor, including street begging. Cambodia is a
destination country for young women and girls from Vietnam, who are trafficked
for purposes of sexual exploitation. Internally, children and adults from
the poorer rural areas of Cambodia are trafficked to Phnom Penh and other
commercial areas for sexual exploitation and forced labor.

The Royal Cambodian Government
(RCG) does not yet fully meet the minimum standards; however, the Government
is making significant efforts to combat trafficking, despite limited resources.
It acknowledges the seriousness of the trafficking problem and has passed
a trafficking in persons statute, which has a penalty stiffer than those
for rape and sexual assault. However, implementing legislation has not
been passed, and lack of prosecutorial resources prevents enforcement.
Severe resource limitations hamper all aspects of civil governance. The
Government has developed a 5-year plan to stop child sexual exploitation
through information campaigns and law enforcement, and the Prime Ministers
office also is engaged in the issue. The Government is working with NGOs
and donor countries to carry out elements of this plan. With NGO funding,
some centers help returning and freed victims with reintegration. However,
civil society groups, NGOs, international organizations, and donor
countries find that all efforts to combat trafficking are seriously undermined
by a combination of weak institutions and pervasive corruption. The Government
cooperates with the governments of Thailand, the United States, and Australia
on trafficking cases.

Cameroon (Tier 2)

Cameroon is a source, transit,
and destination country for internationally trafficked persons; trafficking
also occurs within Cameroon. Children are trafficked from and through
Cameroon to other West African countries for indentured or domestic servitude,
farm labor, and sexual exploitation. Women are principally trafficked
from Cameroon to Europe for sexual exploitation.

The Government of Cameroon
does not yet fully meet the minimum standards; however, the Government
is making significant efforts to combat trafficking despite severe resource
constraints. The Penal Code prohibits trafficking in persons and slavery;
however, enforcement is constrained by the Governments limited resources.
The penalties exceed those for forced sexual assault. The Government is
participating in a two-part ILO trafficking project with eight other countries
(Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote D'Ivoire, Ghana, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal, and
Togo). The Government established an interagency committee to combat trafficking
and has developed a program to find and return trafficked children. The
Ministry of Social Affairs is able to provide rehabilitative assistance
to some child victims of trafficking and forced labor, but the facilities
are overcrowded and poorly financed. The Government does not have resources
to fund NGO's and relies on foreign assistance. The Government works with
local and international NGO's that provide temporary shelter and assistance
to victims of trafficking.

People's Republic of China
(Tier 2)

The People's Republic of China
(PRC, China) is both a source and destination country for trafficking
in persons. Most trafficking is internal. The vast majority of internal
trafficking is for the purpose of providing lower-middle income farmers
with brides or sons, but a minority of cases involve trafficking of women
into forced prostitution in urban areas, and there are some reports suggesting
that some victims, especially children, are sold into coerced labor. Internationally,
Chinese citizens are trafficked to Malaysia, Burma, Japan, North America,
Australia, the Philippines, and Taiwan for sexual exploitation and indentured
servitude in sweatshops and restaurants. China is a destination country
for trafficked persons from Burma, North Korea, Vietnam, Laos, and Russia,
who are subject to sexual exploitation as prostitutes or in arranged marriages.

The Government does not yet
fully meet the minimum standards; however, it is making significant efforts
to combat trafficking, and has undertaken extensive anti-trafficking efforts.
The law prohibits trafficking in women. Sentences for trafficking three
or more persons are as severe as those for rape. The Government has signed
some international protocols related to trafficking but has not yet implemented
them. Officials have investigated and prosecuted many acts of severe forms
of trafficking in persons taking place wholly or partly in the country.
Many domestic victims of severe forms of trafficking in persons are given
assistance and returned to their homes. The central Government has provided
funds to provincial and local police to house victims and return them
to their homes. Government-funded women's federation offices have provided
counseling on legal rights for some victims, including the options for
legal action against the traffickers. There have been unconfirmed reports
of complicity by some local officials in trafficking and there also have
been credible reports of involvement by some local officials in the related
problems of alien smuggling and prostitution; the Government strongly
condemned and severely punished such behavior. The Government has conducted
public education campaigns against trafficking as a preventive measure.
Government authorities have engaged in cooperative activities with foreign
governments in combating trafficking in persons and the related problem
of alien smuggling, particularly with bordering countries.

Costa Rica (Tier 2)

Costa Rica is a transit and
destination country for trafficked persons. The country serves
as a transit point for trafficked persons from Asia to the United States.
There also have been reports of girls from the Philippines being trafficked
to the country for the purpose of sexual exploitation. Isolated cases
of trafficking have involved persons from Africa, Bolivia, China, Colombia,
Cuba, the Dominican Republic, and the Middle East.

The Government of Costa Rica
does not yet fully meet the minimum standards; however, the Government
is making significant efforts to combat trafficking despite resource constraints.
The criminal code prohibits trafficking in women and minors for the purpose
of prostitution, but it does not address all severe forms of trafficking.
There is a government Inter-Ministerial Group on Trafficking to address
the problem in the country. Each participating ministry has reportedly
incorporated preventative trafficking measures into their ministerial
agendas. The Government supports prevention programs to combat sexual
exploitation of minors and trafficking. There are limited formal mechanisms
specifically designed to aid trafficked victims; however, the Government
does offer indirect assistance to child victims of trafficking. Victims
are not granted temporary or permanent residence status, and often are
deported immediately to their country of origin.

Cote D'Ivoire (Tier 2)

Cote D'Ivoire is a source
and destination for internationally trafficked persons, and trafficking
also occurs within the country. Ivoirian women and children are trafficked
to African, European, and Middle Eastern countries. Children are trafficked
to Cote D'Ivoire from Mali, Burkina Faso, Guinea, Ghana, Benin, and Togo
for indentured or domestic servitude, farm labor, and sexual exploitation.
Women principally are trafficked from Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia, and Asian
countries to Cote D'Ivoire.

The Government of Cote D'Ivoire
does not yet fully comply with the minimum standards; however, the Government
is making significant efforts to combat trafficking in persons. The Government
is severely limited by a lack of resources in addressing its trafficking
problem, including the monitoring of its borders. There is no law specifically
prohibiting trafficking in persons; however, the Government can prosecute
traffickers under both the Penal Code and Labor Code. Since 1999 the Government
has prosecuted at least 22 traffickers and has repatriated approximately
3,000 foreign trafficked children. Victims are not detained, jailed, or
deported; foreign embassies are responsible for repatriating them. The
Government cooperates with neighboring countries, international organizations,
and NGO's to combat trafficking. The Government is also participating
in a two-part ILO trafficking project with eight other countries (Benin,
Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cote D'Ivoire, Ghana, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal,
and Togo). In January 2001, the Government completed and validated the
National Emergency Action Plan for the Fight Against Cross-Border Trafficking
in Children for January-June 2001.

Czech Republic (Tier 2)

The Czech Republic is a source,
transit, and destination country for trafficked persons. Czech citizens,
primarily women and children, are trafficked within the country and to
Western Europe for the purpose of sexual exploitation. Women from Moldova,
Romania, Bulgaria, Ukraine, and the Balkan countries are trafficked to
or through the Czech Republic for the purpose of sexual exploitation.

The Government of the Czech
Republic does not yet fully meet the minimum standards; however, the Government
is making significant efforts to combat trafficking despite resource constraints.
According to unconfirmed NGO reports, local border officials are sometimes
complicit in trafficking. The Criminal Code prohibits trafficking in women
and children for the purpose of sexual exploitation. There also are other
relevant statutes that can be used to prosecute traffickers. The penalties
for trafficking are roughly commensurate with those for rape or sexual
assault. The Government investigates and prosecutes cases of trafficking
in persons, although the conviction rates are low. For example, in 1999
a total of 66 persons were charged with trafficking in women for sexual
exploitation purposes. Of those, 27 persons were tried, and 8 were sentenced
to 1 to 5 years in prison. The Government cosponsored a national media
and educational campaign in 2000 in order to warn women of the dangers
of trafficking, and created a program to be used in schools. The Government
does not provide direct assistance to victims, but does refer them to
NGO's that provide assistance. Some of these NGO's receive government
funding. Foreign victims are treated as illegal immigrants and either
are detained or asked to leave the country within 30 days; however, foreign
victims may be offered temporary residence if they agree to testify against
a trafficker. Czech citizens who are trafficked to other countries often
cannot receive government assistance upon their return because their identity
documents have been stolen or taken by traffickers.

Dominican Republic (Tier
2)

The Dominican Republic is
primarily a source country for trafficked women and, less frequently,
for minor girls. According to the Center for Integral Orientation and
Investigation (COIN), an NGO, women typically between the ages of 18 and
25, and girls as young as age 15, are trafficked for purposes of sexual
exploitation and domestic servitude to Europe (Italy, Holland, Switzerland,
Germany, Greece, and Belgium), the Lesser Antilles (Curacao, Saint Martin,
Aruba, and Antigua), and, in some cases, to Argentina and Israel.

The Government of the Dominican
Republic does not yet fully meet the minimum standards; however, the Government
is making significant efforts to combat trafficking on several fronts.
The Criminal Code prohibits trafficking in persons for the purpose of
prostitution, but it does not include other severe forms of trafficking.
There is also a migrant smuggling law that can be used to prosecute traffickers.
The penalties for trafficking in persons are not commensurate with those
penalties for rape, sexual assault, or severe forms of domestic violence.
The Government has successfully prosecuted several individuals engaged
in trafficking in persons, and sentenced them to prison terms from 3 to
5 years. The Government takes action against government officials who
facilitate trafficking. For example, from January to August 2000, the
authorities dismissed 42 immigration employees for connections with groups
that smuggle or traffic persons. The Government is attempting, through
a new social plan, to alleviate some of the extreme poverty that drives
Dominican women to migrate in search of employment. There are no governmental
services for victims nor does the Government fund local NGOs providing
services to victims.

El Salvador (Tier 2)

El Salvador is a source and
transit country for trafficking in persons, primarily women and girls,
who are trafficked to Guatemala and other Central American countries.
Trafficking also occurs within the country. The majority of trafficked
victims transiting El Salvador are from Nicaragua, Honduras, and South
America.

The Government of El Salvador
does not yet fully meet the minimum standards; however, the Government
is making significant efforts despite resource constraints. The Criminal
Code specifically prohibits trafficking in persons. The penalty for trafficking
is comparable to the penalties for rape and forcible sexual assault. The
Government has not prosecuted cases against traffickers, in part because
the law is new, and also due to a lack of resources. However, the Government
has created special units to investigate and prosecute cases of violence
against women and children, including trafficking. The Government deports
non-Salvadoran victims of trafficking; however, victims can obtain temporary
residency or refugee status if they are likely to face political persecution
in the country of origin. Victims of trafficking are not treated as criminals.
The Government does not provide assistance to its repatriated citizens
who are victims of trafficking, nor does it support the NGOs that
assist them. The Government maintains a good working relationship with
NGOs.

Ethiopia (Tier 2)

Ethiopia is a country of origin
for internationally trafficked women. Ethiopian women voluntarily travel
to Middle Eastern countries, primarily Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain,
and the United Arab Emirates, to work as domestics; some of these women
subsequently report abuse that could be categorized as trafficking. There
is also evidence of trafficking in persons within Ethiopia. The abduction
of women and girls as a form of marriage is practiced in certain regions.

The Government of Ethiopia
does not yet fully meet the minimum standards; however, the Government
is making significant efforts to combat trafficking despite severe resource
constraints. The Penal Code has sections that criminalize trafficking,
enslavement, and abusing the human rights and integrity of an Ethiopian
sent abroad. The penalties for trafficking are roughly commensurate with
those for rape or sexual assault. The Government does not have the resources
to actively investigate and prosecute traffickers and there have been
no reported prosecutions of traffickers. The Federal Polices Womens
Affairs Bureau in collaboration with the media created a continuous public
awareness program on the dangers of migrating to Middle Eastern countries.
In March 2000, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs opened a consulate in Beirut
to assist women in abusive employment situations. The Government is unable
to provide direct assistance to victims, and there is only one Ethiopian
NGO that could provide such assistance.

France (Tier 2)

France is a destination and
transit country for trafficked victims, primarily women from Africa, South
America, Eastern and Southern Europe, and the New Independent States.
In general, victims are trafficked into sexual exploitation or domestic
slavery.

The Government does not yet
fully meet the minimum standards; however, the Government is making significant
efforts to combat the problem. There is no specific law against trafficking,
but a range of other laws is used to prosecute traffickers. The Government
actively investigates and prosecutes traffickers. The courts have convicted
several people of enslaving their domestic servants. One case resulted
in a years imprisonment, a fine of approximately $5,000, and payment
of damages to victim of approximately $30,000. The Central Office for
the Repression of Trafficking in Humans, created in 1958, centralizes
information and coordinates operations to combat trafficking. The Government
has no articulated protection programs in place for trafficking victims.
Those victims located or arrested by the authorities normally are processed
as illegal immigrants and may be detained or jailed. Trafficking victims
may be granted temporary residency while they apply for asylum. Victims
are encouraged to file legal action against traffickers. The Government
works closely with other countries and NGOs to combat trafficking.
The Government supports anti-trafficking prevention programs, as part
of the European Union, including information and media campaigns, seminars,
and a trafficking project in West Africa.

Georgia (Tier 2)

Georgia is a source and a
transit country for trafficking in both men and women. Georgians are mostly
trafficked to Turkey, Greece, Israel, and Western Europe for work in bars,
domestic service, and prostitution. Russian and Ukrainian women are trafficked
through Georgia to Turkey.

The Government of Georgia
does not meet the minimum standards; however, it is taking steps to combat
trafficking in persons. Georgia is limited by a lack of resources and
its inability to control borders and separatist regimes. Georgia has no
specific anti-trafficking law, but it does have laws prohibiting slavery,
forced labor, illegal detention, kidnapping, rape, sexual coercion, and
fraud, with penalties ranging from 3 to 20 years. Prosecutors have used
the fraud statutes in several trafficking cases. The Government is imposing
new regulations on travel agencies to strengthen the legal rights of clients.
Severe budget constraints prevent the Government from funding prevention
and repatriation programs. Georgia cooperates with other governments on
trafficking cases through exchanges of intelligence and other information.

Ghana (Tier 2)

Ghana is a source, transit,
and destination country for internationally trafficked persons, primarily
children. Trafficking of children for labor and sexual exploitation also
occurs within Ghana. The practice of "Trokosi" is a localized form of
slavery or ritual servitude in which girls are forced into slavery for
local fetish shrines in repayment for offenses committed by members of
the girls families. Young women are trafficked to Europe and the
Middle East for sexual exploitation. Children are trafficked to and from
Cote D'Ivoire, Togo, and Nigeria for indentured or domestic servitude,
farm labor and prostitution. Children trafficked from Burkina Faso transit
Ghana on the way to Cote D'Ivoire.

The Government of Ghana does
not yet fully meet the minimum standards; however, the Government is making
significant efforts to combat trafficking despite resource constraints.
There is no law specifically prohibiting trafficking in persons; however,
the Government can prosecute traffickers under laws against slavery, prostitution,
and underage labor. The Government does not actively investigate or prosecute
traffickers and has difficulties adequately monitoring its borders. Trokosi
is illegal in Ghana, but no actions have been undertaken to eliminate
Trokosi shrines or prosecute either the fetish priests or parents who
have given away their daughters. The Government supports programs to prevent
trafficking, including poverty alleviation and access to education. The
Government is participating in a two-part ILO trafficking project with
eight other countries (Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cote D'Ivoire, Mali,
Nigeria, Senegal, and Togo). The Government works to repatriate trafficked
children and reunite them with their parents. Assistance to victims is
provided by NGO's.

Guatemala (Tier 2)

Guatemala is a source and
transit country for international trafficking of persons. In a few instances,
it is also a destination country. Trafficked persons come mainly from
other Central American countries and Ecuador. Victims trafficked to Guatemala
are usually young women or children who are brought in for sexual exploitation.
Those trafficked from Guatemala for sexual exploitation are usually minors,
both boys and girls, from poor families.

The Government of Guatemala
does not yet fully meet the minimum standards; however, the Government
is making significant efforts to combat trafficking despite resource constraints
and endemic corruption. The law specifically prohibits trafficking and
smuggling of persons. The Government investigates trafficking cases; however,
there have been no prosecutions of trafficking cases as victims often
fail to press charges due to a cumbersome judicial system. The penalty
for trafficking is not commensurate with the penalty for rape, and prison
sentences for traffickers are commutable. The Government does not assist
or protect victims of trafficking, although victims are not treated as
criminals. The Government has conducted anti-trafficking and anti-smuggling
public awareness campaigns, and it provides limited funding to NGOs
dedicated to preventing trafficking.

Haiti (Tier 2)

Trafficking of children occurs
primarily within Haiti's borders for purposes of prostitution or labor.
The practice of parents sending their children, mainly girls, whom they
feel they cannot take care of to work as domestic servants in exchange
for that childs room and board has existed in Haiti for centuries.
These children are called "restaveks" (derived from the French words rester
avec meaning to stay with). While many restaveks are
well taken care of and receive adequate care including an education, a
significant number are subjected to violence, threats and other forms
of physical and mental abuse. Some of the former restaveks end up as prostitutes
because they lack the resources to return to their families or other opportunities
when their services are no longer needed as restaveks. To a lesser extent,
Haiti is a country of origin for trafficked men and women to the United
States, Europe (mainly France), Canada, and the Dominican Republic.

The Government of Haiti does
not yet fully meet the minimum standards; however, the Government has
acknowledged its internal trafficking problem and is making significant
efforts to address it despite severe resource constraints. There is no
evidence that the authorities are complicit in trafficking. There is no
law specifically prohibiting trafficking in persons, and the Government
does not adequately enforce existing labor laws regarding child labor.
However, the Government devotes its entire social welfare budget to combat
the trafficking of restavek children. For example, the Government ran
a media campaign to prevent the mistreatment of children and maintained
a hotline for victims. This effort resulted in the removal of 760 restaveks
from abusive households. Government officials then placed rescued victims
in shelters and in the care of NGOs. The International Labor Organization,
at the Governments request, is developing a framework for addressing
the gap between practice, national legislation, and international standards
with regard to combating child domestic labor.

Honduras (Tier 2)

Honduras is primarily a source
country for trafficked children to neighboring countries. According to
the NGO Covenant House Honduran children, especially young girls, are
trafficked by criminal groups to other Central American countries for
purposes of sexual exploitation. Honduran boys reportedly are being trafficked
to Canada for the purpose of drug trafficking. There are reports that
trafficking in children also occurs within the country's borders.

The Government of Honduras
does not yet fully meet the minimum standards; however, the Government
has made significant efforts to combat trafficking. The Criminal Code
specifically prohibits trafficking in persons. The penalties for trafficking
are generally comparable with the penalties for rape or forcible sexual
assault. Corruption, lack of resources, and weak police and judicial institutions
undermine effective law enforcement. Although traffickers have been arrested,
the Government has not prosecuted any cases. The Government has not developed
public information or prevention campaigns. There are no special services
for victims of trafficking; however, the Government does assist repatriated
Honduran nationals for a period of up to 6 months with job placement assistance,
temporary shelter, and basic subsistence. In March 2000, the Government
inaugurated two centers for citizens deported from other countries who
are relocating to Honduras. In 2000 the Government cooperated with Mexican
officials to repatriate approximately 400 Honduran girls trafficked to
Mexico for purposes of sexual exploitation.

Hungary (Tier 2)

Hungary is primarily a transit,
but also a source and destination country for trafficked persons. Women
and children are trafficked for sexual exploitation mostly from Romania,
Ukraine, Moldova, Poland, the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, and China
to and through Hungary to Austria, Germany, Spain, the Netherlands, Italy,
France, and the U.S. Men trafficked for forced labor through Hungary to
the EU and the U.S. come from Iraq, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan.
Trafficking victims from Hungary are typically women from the eastern
part of the country where unemployment is high.

The Government of Hungary
does not yet fully meet the minimum standards; however, the Government
is making significant efforts to combat trafficking despite a lack of
resources and endemic, low-level corruption. A trafficking law provides
for penalties commensurate with those for rape. There were 13 ongoing
trials at the time of this report. The Government has identified trafficking
fronts, including modeling, employment, and entertainment agencies, many
of which use the same mobile phone numbers and addresses, indicating probable
organized crime involvement. Strict data protection legislation, a response
to excesses of the old communist regime, prohibits joint investigations
by organizations with police powers, so there is no central or coordinated
authority on trafficking issues. Under the Organized Crime Task Force,
the police are investigating trafficking cases involving organized crime,
and the Government is cooperating bilaterally with the U.S. in the law
enforcement arena. In theory, assistance with temporary residency status,
short-term relief from deportation, and shelter assistance are available
to trafficking victims who cooperate with police and prosecutors; however,
there are no documented cases in which such assistance was provided. Police
and immigration officials allegedly often treat trafficking victims as
criminals or refuse to accept reports of kidnapping against young women.
The Government is consulting with NGO's to provide anti-trafficking sensitivity
training to police. Consular officials are not empowered to provide any
legal or financial assistance to Hungarian citizens who are trafficked
abroad.

India (Tier 2)

India is a source, transit,
and destination country for trafficked persons. Internal trafficking of
Indian women and children is widespread. India is a destination country
for Nepali and Bangladeshi women and girls for forced labor and prostitution.
To a lesser extent, India is a country of origin for women and children
trafficked to other countries in Asia, the Middle East, and the West.
India serves as a transit point for Bangladeshi girls and women trafficked
for sexual exploitation in Pakistan and boys trafficked to the Gulf States
to work as camel jockeys. The trafficking of children to India for prostitution
from Nepal and Bangladesh is widespread; many are children under 18 years
of age.

The Government of India does
not yet fully meet the minimum standards; however, the Government is making
significant efforts to combat trafficking in persons. The central Government
recognizes the trafficking problem, but is severely underfunded and typically
unable to implement plans and initiatives with which it agrees. The Immoral
Traffic (Prevention) Act (ITPA) prohibits trafficking in human beings
(including children), encompasses sexual exploitation for commercial purposes
of members of both sexes, and provides enhanced penalties for offences
involving minors. While there is federal anti-trafficking legislation,
almost all cases are tried at the state level, which is outside the jurisdiction
of federal laws. The Government is amending the ITPA to increase penalties
for traffickers, assist victims and is seeking legislation conferring
on the central Government the primary role in efforts to prosecute trafficking.
Backlogged courts and local corruption render most prosecutorial efforts
ineffective. There has been limited progress toward training, sensitizing
and gaining the cooperation of Indian State police. Many victims are arrested
and abused by local police. Cooperation with neighboring countries (specifically
Bangladesh and Nepal) in fighting trafficking has recently begun, but
the Government has not yet prosecuted cross-border trafficking cases.
In July 2000, the Government provided assistance to investigators from
the United States who were seeking evidence to use to prosecute a trafficker.
The NGO community has taken the lead on prevention, protection and prosecution
programs and works well with some entities in the central Government;
however, NGO's have a mixed record in securing the cooperation of state
police and local government. The Government manages approximately 80 protective
homes for victims of trafficking, some of which NGO's have criticized
as severely lacking in victim assistance. Calcutta-based anti-trafficking
NGO's have joined efforts with state agencies to protect and care for
victims of trafficking by improving the quality and security at the main
remand home for women and by providing counselors.

Japan (Tier 2)

Japan is a destination country
for women, primarily from Thailand, the Philippines, and the New Independent
States, who are trafficked for purposes of sexual exploitation. There
is evidence that trafficking takes place within Japan to the extent that
some of these women are recruited and then subsequently forced, through
the sale of their "contracts," to work for other employers in Japan. Japan
is also a destination point for illegal immigration from China facilitated
by Chinese and Japanese organized crime groups who hold illegal immigrants
in debt bondage. Japan is also a major alien smuggling transit point for
many travelers who are being trafficked from south and east Asia.

The Government of Japan does
not yet fully meet the minimum standards; however, the Government is making
significant efforts to combat trafficking. There are no specific
laws that prohibit trafficking in persons; however, in 1999 the Diet enacted
two new pieces of legislation which target persons who produce child pornography
and those who hold individuals in debt bondage. Traffickers also can be
prosecuted for violations of employment laws and Penal Code offenses such
as abduction and kidnapping. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
law enforcement agencies have increased operations within Japan to expose
broker organizations and establishments in the country that employ trafficking
victims. However, there are allegations that some law enforcement units
have been reluctant to investigate reports of trafficking and that the
Government has not been aggressive in arresting and prosecuting suspected
traffickers. Except for the Tokyo metropolitan government, which funds
one Tokyo-based NGO assisting victims of trafficking, there is no government
support for NGOs working with trafficked persons in Japan. Victims
are often treated as criminals (prostitutes or illegal aliens) by the
legal system because the Government does not consider people who willingly
enter for illegal work to be trafficking victims. There is no formal "task
force," or interagency working group, to coordinate anti-trafficking efforts
among various ministries. However, in practice the Government focuses
its prevention efforts in Asian source countries by funding public information
campaigns targeted at potential victims and providing equipment and training
to police and customs officials in those countries. The Government works
cooperatively with other countries, but the immigration service has been
slow to respond to illicit activities associated with transit passengers
at Japans international airports.

Kyrgyzstan (Tier 2)

Kyrgyzstan is a country of
origin and transit for trafficking in persons. Kyrgyz men, women, and
children are trafficked to Russia, Turkey, Germany, and the United Arab
Emirates, mostly for prostitution. Men are also trafficked to Kazakhstan
for forced labor.

The Government of Kyrgyzstan
does not meet the minimum standards and is limited by lack of resources
and low-level corruption. The Government developed a 13-step plan to combat
trafficking in response to the IOM 2000 trafficking report and is beginning
to implement the plan. Kyrgyzstan does not have specific trafficking laws,
but prosecutors can use laws against kidnapping, exploitation, rape, and
deprivation of freedom. In 1999, 18 people were convicted of trafficking
and sentenced to five years imprisonment, and 4 people were sentenced
to under two years imprisonment in 2000. Prosecution of 3 of 11 law enforcement
officers accused of preparing fraudulent documentation for trafficked
women is underway. The Government reports firing several officials involved
in trafficking. Kyrgyzstans stay-in-school program, which assists
low-income children, serves as a prevention measure, and the State Agency
for Migration is urging Kyrgyz laborers to obtain signed contracts. The
Government provides no assistance to victims, but it cooperates with NGO's
that are assisting victims and supports research on migration. Many victims
reportedly are forced to pay bribes to law enforcement officials to avoid
being prosecuted themselves, usually for traveling with false documents.
High-level government officials are participating in IOM-sponsored anti-trafficking
roundtables that include tourist agencies, and Kyrgystan has signed the
Trafficking in Persons Protocol.

Laos (Tier 2)

Laos is a source country for
trafficking in persons, primarily young women, although some young men
also are victims. Nearly all are trafficked to Thailand, although a small
number of persons are trafficked to China. An estimated 20,000 Lao enter
Thailand annually, willingly crossing the border seeking employment based
on deceptive claims of recruiters, but many are held in indentured and
coercive work situations, primarily for sexual exploitation or in sweat
shops, once they arrive.

The Government of Laos does
not yet fully meet the minimum standards; however, the Government has
taken some steps to stop trafficking despite significant resource constraints.
The Government devotes resources to protection of children and has established
a team in the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare to attempt to prevent
trafficking. There is no law that specifically prohibits trafficking although
there are laws against procuring, kidnapping, and slavery. Enforcement
as with most laws in Laos is uneven due to poor training. At times repatriated
trafficked victims are given re-education in their localities when they
return; however, at other times, the government prosecutes them for illegal
departures.

Lithuania (Tier 2)

Lithuania is a source, transit,
and destination country for trafficking in persons, primarily women who
are trafficked for purposes of sexual exploitation. Lithuanian women are
trafficked to Western Europe (including Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark,
France, and Austria) and the Middle East (including Israel and the United
Arab Emirates). Trafficking also occurs within Lithuania.

The Government of Lithuania
does not yet fully meet the minimum standards; however, the Government
is making significant efforts to address the problem despite resource
constraints and reports of corruption among customs and border guards.
The Criminal Code specifically prohibits trafficking in persons. The penalty
for trafficking is commensurate with the penalties for rape or sexual
assault. The Government investigates cases of trafficking; however, there
have not yet been any prosecutions. The Government provides limited funding
for trafficking prevention and victims rehabilitation programs;
however, some NGOs report that government cooperation is marginal,
and the NGOs receive little assistance from local welfare services
to assist trafficked victims. Trafficked victims do have access to free
medical care. There is no established practice of providing temporary
residence for trafficked victims, although it occasionally is granted.
Government agencies encourage victims to seek legal action against the
traffickers. Government officials respect the rights of trafficked victims.

Macedonia (Tier 2)

Macedonia is a transit and
destination country for trafficking. Most victims are women who are trafficked
for sexual exploitation from Ukraine, Moldova, Romania, and Bulgaria.
Victims transit Macedonia to Italy, Albania, and Kosovo.

The Government of Macedonia
does not yet fully meet the minimum standards; however, the Government
has taken significant steps to combat trafficking despite scarce resources
and low-level corruption. The law does not specifically prohibit trafficking;
however, traffickers can be tried under laws prohibiting slavery, kidnapping,
illegal entry, and alien smuggling. The Government investigates and prosecutes
trafficking, and courts have convicted at least three traffickers. A recently
opened government shelter offers limited medical and psychological assistance
to victims. Previously officials had typically treated all victims as
criminals, but attitudes are changing due to sensitivity training. Rather
than deporting victims, officials now send them to the shelter and to
International Organization of Migration for repatriation assistance.

Mali (Tier 2)

Mali is a source and destination
country for trafficked persons, primarily children. Children from Mali
are trafficked to Cote D'Ivoire to work on cotton and cocoa plantations
or for domestic servitude. Women from Nigeria are trafficked to Mali for
sexual exploitation.

The Government of Mali does
not yet fully meet the minimum standards; however, the Government is making
significant efforts to combat trafficking despite a severe lack of resources.
Laws prohibit the contractual use of persons without their consent. The
Government has not prosecuted any cases against traffickers, but there
have been prosecutions of traffickers of Malian children in Cote D'Ivoire.
In 2000 the Government formulated a comprehensive action plan to combat
the trafficking of children through prevention, protection, and prosecution
programs; however, due to limited resources, the Government has been unable
to implement the plan. The Government signed an accord in 2000 with the
Government of Cote D'Ivoire to cooperate against trafficking in children.
The Government is participating in a two-part ILO anti-trafficking project
with eight other countries (Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cote D'Ivoire,
Nigeria, Senegal, and Togo). Victims of trafficking are not detained,
jailed, or prosecuted for other crimes. The Government relies on the donor
community to fund assistance programs, such as repatriation centers.

Mexico (Tier 2)

Mexico is a source country
for trafficked persons to the United States, Canada, and Japan, and a
transit country for persons from various countries, especially Central
America and China. There are an increasing number of persons from Brazil
and Eastern Europe transiting through Mexico, some of whom are trafficked
Salvadorans and Guatemalans, especially children, are trafficked into
Mexico for prostitution, particularly on the southern border. Internal
trafficking is also a problem.

The Government of Mexico does
not yet fully meet the minimum standards; however, the Government is making
significant efforts to combat trafficking despite resource constraints
and corruption, especially at the lower levels of government. There are
no specific laws that prohibit the trafficking of persons, but there are
other relevant laws that may be used to prosecute traffickers. The Government
devotes law enforcement and social development resources to prevent illegal
transit of persons for any purpose. The Government actively investigates
and prosecutes cases of trafficking and smuggling. At the time of this
report there were no statistics available on conviction and sentencing
rates of traffickers. The Government is implementing anti-corruption measures
as part of its larger effort to restructure Mexicos law enforcement
institutions. The Government supports general prevention campaigns for
children and women, and administers assistance programs for children repatriated
to Mexico. The legal framework exists to protect victims of trafficking,
and provide social services to these victims. However, in practice persons
illegally in Mexico usually are deported.

Moldova (Tier 2)

Moldova is both a source and
a transit country for women and girls trafficked primarily to Turkey,
Italy, Greece, and the Balkan region.

The Government of Moldova
does not meet the minimum standards and is limited by a lack of resources,
low-level border guard corruption, and inadequate legislation; however,
it is taking significant steps to combat trafficking in persons. Moldova
established an anti-trafficking section within the Ministry of Internal
Affairs in 2000. The Government aired a documentary about trafficking
in women in 1999, and Moldova has a working group on trafficking to coordinate
anti-trafficking activities, which submits quarterly reports on the Governments
activities to combat trafficking. Moldovan law does not prohibit trafficking.
An amendment to Moldovas Criminal Code, still in draft form, addresses
the crime. In 2000, Moldovan law enforcement investigated 12 cases that
dealt with trafficking persons abroad under the law against pimping. Most
of those found guilty received probation, one received a fine of $4,500,
and one was placed under parental supervision. To date, no traffickers
have been sentenced to jail, although there are cases in the courts. Moldova
has cooperated with Belarus, Ukraine, and Russia in investigating trafficking
cases. No government-operated or government-funded programs exist to assist
victims.

Morocco (Tier 2)

Morocco is a source and transit
country for trafficked persons. Moroccan women are trafficked abroad to
the Middle East and Europe under the guise of legitimate job offers and
then sexually exploited. There is also internal trafficking of women and
children; girls are trafficked primarily for domestic servitude and women
are trafficked for sexual exploitation. There are unsubstantiated reports
that Sub-Saharan Africans are trafficked through Morocco on the way to
Europe.

The Government of Morocco
does not yet fully meet the minimum standards; however, the Government
is making significant efforts to combat trafficking despite resource constraints.
The law does not specifically prohibit trafficking in persons; however,
there are several statutes under which traffickers can be prosecuted.
The Government has prosecuted individuals who coerced or forced women
into sexual exploitation. The penalties are roughly commensurate with
rape. The Government supports anti-trafficking prevention programs through
its emphasis on education. The Government together with UNICEF and royal
patronage launched a nationwide campaign against child maids. The Government
established a hotline through which cases of physical and emotional abuse
of child maids may be reported. Although prostitution is illegal, the
Government does not prosecute women who have been coerced into sexual
exploitation. Although NGO's provide assistance to victims of trafficking,
the Government does not have the resources to support NGO's.

Nepal (Tier 2)

Nepal is a source country
for internationally trafficked women and children. Poor, uneducated young
women from Nepals rural regions are trafficked to India to work
as prostitutes and for bonded labor. Nepalese citizens also are trafficked
to Hong Kong, Thailand, and countries in the Middle East. Government officials
suspect that organized crime groups and "marriage brokers" are the primary
traffickers in Nepal and state that parents and other relatives of trafficking
victims are sometimes complicit.

The Government of Nepal does
not yet fully meet the minimum standards; however, the Government is making
significant efforts to combat trafficking despite severe resource constraints.
The Human Trafficking Control Act of 1986 prohibits selling persons in
Nepal or abroad and provides for penalties of up to 20 years' imprisonment
for traffickers. However, this legislation does not criminalize the separation
of minors from their legal guardians with the intent of trafficking them.
As a result, no crime occurs until the victim and perpetrators are outside
Nepalese jurisdiction. No laws cover receiving trafficked persons. The
open border with India does not allow for stringent border monitoring.
Low-level corruption among border guards and law enforcement allows trafficked
women to be brought out of the country. The Government actively investigates
and prosecutes trafficking and has created an anti-trafficking unit within
the police. The Government, together with NGO's and international organizations,
has implemented local, regional and national public awareness campaigns
about trafficking in persons. The Government provides limited funding
to NGO's to provide assistance to victims through rehabilitation, medical
care, and legal services. The Government protects the rights of victims
and does not detain, jail, or prosecute them for violations of other laws.
The Government has imposed restrictions on women's travel to some countries
to work as domestic servants, in response to past cases of abuse of such
women. Women's rights groups have protested the ban as discriminatory.

Nigeria (Tier 2)

Nigeria is a source, transit,
and destination country for trafficked persons. The majority of trafficking
from Nigeria involves females destined for Europe; Italian authorities
estimate that 10,000 Nigerian prostitutes work in Italy, many of them
the victims of traffickers. Nigerians, primarily women and children, also
are trafficked to work on plantations in other African countries, including
Gabon, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, and Benin. Other significant destination
countries for trafficked Nigerians include the Netherlands, the Czech
Republic, Spain, France, and countries in the Middle East. Nigeria also
serves as a transit hub for trafficking in West Africa and to a lesser
extent, a destination point for young children from nearby West African
countries. There is also evidence of trafficking of children and women
within Nigeria.

The Government of Nigeria
does not yet fully meet the minimum standards; however, the Government
is making significant efforts to combat trafficking despite a lack of
resources and widespread corruption among law enforcement officials. There
is no federal statute that prohibits trafficking in persons. Under the
criminal code, penalties for trafficking of children include fines and
imprisonment from 2 to 7 years. The penal code provides for a maximum
penalty of 10 years in prison for anyone convicted of encouraging the
prostitution of women or children. The Government is revising the Criminal
and Penal Code as well as State Laws. In 1999 the Government funded the
establishment of a 10-member police anti-trafficking task force that has
facilitated the repatriation of over 400 women and girls in the past 2
years. Task force members regularly use personal funds to feed and care
for victims deported back to Nigeria. However, victims also have alleged
that Nigerian immigration officials are actively complicit with or may
operate as part of trafficking syndicates. The Governments of Italy and
Nigeria have cooperated to repatriate over 900 victims of trafficking.
NGO's provide some assistance to victims, conduct public awareness campaigns,
and lobby for stronger legislation. These activities have had some success
on the state/local level. In 2001 Edo State passed a law specifically
aimed against traffickers of women and children, with provisions beyond
those found in the national criminal code.

Philippines (Tier 2)

The Philippines is a source,
transit, and, to a lesser degree, destination country for trafficked persons.
Young Filipina women and girls are trafficked to Japan and many other
countries for the purposes of sexual exploitation. Many Filipino overseas
contract workers are forced to work in substandard conditions or are subjected
to abuse. Mainland Chinese nationals are trafficked through the Philippines
to worldwide destinations. A significant number of adults and children
also are trafficked domestically from poorer areas to urban centers for
the commercial sex industry and domestic work.

The Government of the Philippines
does not yet fully meet the minimum standards; however, the Government
is making significant efforts to combat trafficking. There is no law that
specifically prohibits trafficking in persons; however, there are other
laws such as the Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act that could
be used to prosecute traffickers. Prosecutions are rare, since the pace
of justice is slow and the Government faces serious financial constraints.
Corruption is pervasive. Anti-trafficking efforts focus mainly on prevention,
the protection of overseas Filipino workers, and assistance to victims.
The Government provides assistance such as medical aid, shelter, and financial
help to repatriated victims. It also provides extensive training on assisting
victims to its diplomatic and consular staffs in destination countries.
Persons trafficked to the Philippines are treated as victims and are not
prosecuted or immediately deported. The Government enjoys a good relationship
with the many domestic NGOs that work on human trafficking issues
and is an active participant in regional anti-trafficking initiatives.
For example, the Philippines coordinates with governments in the region
on trafficking issues in a number of settings, including the Asia-Pacific
Consultations on Refugees, Displaced Persons, and Migrants and the Manila
Process on trafficking and irregular migration in east and southeast Asia.

Poland (Tier 2)

Poland is a source, transit,
and destination country for trafficking victims. Polish women and girls
are trafficked to western European countries such as Germany, the Netherlands,
Belgium, and Switzerland, for sexual exploitation. Victims from Eastern
European countries, including Bulgaria, Ukraine, Romania, Belarus, and
Russia, are trafficked to Poland.

The Government of Poland does
not yet fully meet the minimum standards; however, the Government has
made significant efforts to combat trafficking despite a lack of resources.
The Government implemented revised anti-trafficking criminal statutes
in 1998, with penalties of up to 10 years of imprisonment, roughly commensurate
with the penalty for rape. From 1995 to 1999, the authorities investigated
148 trafficking cases, most of which were initiated by the German police.
The Government prosecuted 95 of the cases, resulting in 151 convictions
and 5 acquittals. Penalties of those convicted ranged up to 10 years
imprisonment; however, the courts suspended 53 of the sentences. The Government
provides small grants to NGO's for victim assistance programs. Victims
usually are deported as soon as possible in order to avoid any expenses
connected with keeping them in detention. Polish victims are eligible
for welfare services. Foreign victims in Poland have no legal status or
public resources available to them. There is no provision to allow victims
to remain in Poland long enough to pursue legal action against their traffickers.

Sierra Leone (Tier 2)

Internal trafficking in persons
takes place in Sierra Leone. The Revolutionary United Front (RUF) rebels
abduct and hold men, women, and children against their will for the purpose
of forced labor, forced military conscription, and sexual servitude.

The Government of Sierra Leone
does not yet fully meet the minimum standards; however, the Government
is making significant efforts to combat trafficking in persons despite
severe resource constraints and the civil conflict with the RUF. The RUF
controls approximately 60 percent of the country, and the Government is
unable to investigate or prosecute traffickers in these areas. There are
no reports of trafficking in persons in areas of Sierra Leone that are
under the control of the Government. The Government hosts the largest
UN peacekeeping mission in the world, which has a mandate to assist the
Government to extend its authority. The Government cooperates with the
international community in the investigation of trafficking in persons
carried out by the RUF. The Government and the UN have reached agreement
on the creation of a Special Court that is expected to vigorously investigate
and prosecute those persons bearing the greatest responsibility for atrocities
and violations of international humanitarian law. A number of RUF leaders
are in detention and may be brought before the Special Court on charges
that may potentially include trafficking in persons. The Government and
NGO's interview victims of RUF abuses who manage to reach government-held
areas and maintain records of cases that can be used for future prosecutions
of perpetrators. The Government works closely with bilateral donors, NGO's,
and UN agencies on programs to assist victims of RUF abuses. The Government
and NGO's reintegrate ex-combatants into society, including victims of
trafficking. Approximately 25,000 young adults have been through an educational
and training program. The Government also works with international donors
on media campaigns in support of this program. There are no reported cases
in which trafficking victims have been detained, jailed, or deported by
the Government, nor are there cases in which they were prosecuted for
violations of other laws such as prostitution or illegal immigration.

Singapore (Tier 2)

Singapore is a destination
country for women who are trafficked for sexual exploitation, principally
from India but also from Thailand, China, Sri Lanka, and Indonesia. Indian,
Bangladeshi, and Filipino men and women often face coercive employment
situations in indentured servitude due to contracts entered into abroad.

The Government of Singapore
meets the minimum standards. There is no omnibus law against trafficking
in persons; however, such acts are punishable under laws which prohibit
the trafficking of women or girls into the country for purposes of prostitution,
unlawful custody or control of children, wrongful confinement, and trafficking
of illegal immigrants. While none of these laws prescribe punishments
commensurate with those for rape, punishments for offenses are substantial.
Convicted traffickers would typically be found guilty of violating more
than one law, which in the aggregate could provide commensurate punishment.
There is no evidence that government officials are complicit in trafficking,
and the country has no corruption. Prostitution is not illegal, although
profiting from it by other persons does violate the law, and the use of
fraud or coercion to induce women into prostitution is illegal. In practice,
the authorities usually tolerate prostitution, which largely involves
foreign women, some of whom are trafficked. There is no specific campaign
to combat or prevent the use of fraud or coercion to recruit foreign women
as prostitutes, although some persons have been prosecuted and punished
for crimes involving such acts. Immigration laws are enforced strictly,
which sharply reduces the flow of persons potentially vulnerable to trafficking,
and adds to the legal jeopardy faced by would-be traffickers. The Ministry
of Manpower investigates complaints by foreign workers, and prevents employers
from terminating workers while an investigation is ongoing; the Ministry
is not known to have received such complaints. The Government substantially
strengthened penalties against employers who abuse domestics in 1998,
and prosecutes the now greatly reduced cases of abuse; however, victims
testifying in cases are required to remain in the country and often are
not permitted to work. There are no known NGOs that assist sex trafficking
victims and the Government does not provide assistance.

Slovenia (Tier 2)

Slovenia is a transit and
destination country for trafficking; most victims are women trafficked
into sexual exploitation from Ukraine, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Moldova,
Russia, Romania, and Bulgaria through Slovenia to Italy, Belgium, and
the Netherlands.

The Government of Slovenia
does not yet fully meet the minimum standards; however, the Government
is making significant efforts to combat trafficking despite a lack of
resources. There are no specific trafficking laws, but prosecutors can
use other provisions against traffickers that carry penalties of 6 months
to 10 years' imprisonment. In 1999 there were 46 criminal indictment for
trafficking. A total of 16 cases went to trial; the courts sentenced one
person to 6 months and another to 1 year in prison. In 2000 the Government
apprehended a suspected organized-crime boss whose alleged crimes included
trafficking in persons. Regional police directorates have organized crime
departments that investigate trafficking. The Government does not have
prevention programs nor does it assist trafficking victims. Victims usually
are deported either immediately or following their testimony in court.
The Government provides funding to NGO's that assist only Slovenian citizens.

South Africa (Tier 2)

South Africa is a destination
country for trafficked persons. Women are trafficked within South Africa
and from other African countries (specifically Angola, Zimbabwe, Lesotho,
Swaziland, Zambia, Cameroon, Malawi, and Rwanda), Asia (specifically Thailand
and Taiwan), Eastern Europe, Russia, and the New Independent States. South
Africa is also a transit point for trafficking operations between developing
countries and Europe, the United States, and Canada.

The Government of South Africa
does not yet fully comply with the minimum standards; however, the Government
is making significant efforts to combat trafficking. The Government is
limited by a lack of resources, and corruption is a problem in some localities.
The law does not prohibit specifically the act of trafficking, but there
is a range of other relevant laws that may be used to prosecute traffickers.
There have been some successful investigations, including one that was
being prosecuted at the time of this report. The perpetrator usually is
liable for a fine between $1,300 to $9,300 and usually is responsible
for the cost of tracking, locating, detaining, and repatriating victims
of trafficking. Government officials acknowledge that trafficking is a
problem; however, the problem of trafficking usually is categorized under
the larger issues of violence against women or illegal migration. For
the first time, the Border Police included the principle of protecting
women and children against trafficking in their strategic plan for 2001.
There are few programs to assist victims of trafficking, and most of these
have been established by NGO's. Victims who fall into police custody usually
are deported soon thereafter.

Sri Lanka (Tier 2)

Sri Lanka is a country of
origin and destination for trafficked persons, primarily women and children.
Sri Lankan women travel to Middle Eastern countries to work as domestics
and some have reported being forced into domestic servitude and sexual
exploitation. Women from Thailand, China, and Russia have been trafficked
to Sri Lanka for sexual exploitation. Some Sri Lankan children are trafficked
internally both for sexual exploitation and as domestics. Boys are trafficked
to the Middle East (primarily Qatar and the United Arab Emirates) as camel
jockeys, but not in significant numbers. Internal trafficking in persons
takes place within Sri Lanka. The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE)
abduct and hold children against their will for the purpose of forced
labor and forced military conscription.

The Government of Sri Lanka
does not yet fully meet the minimum standards; however, the Government
is making significant efforts to combat trafficking, despite resource
constraints and the civil conflict with the LTTE. The LTTE controls territory
in the north and east of the country and the Government is unable to investigate
or prosecute traffickers in these areas. The Penal Code specifically prohibits
trafficking in persons; the penalties are commensurate with those for
rape. The Government created a National Child Protection Authority to
encourage school attendance and fight crimes against children, including
trafficking. The National Child Protection Authority provides medical
and psychological assistance to victims of trafficking and child soldiers.
The Government, together with NGO's, has conducted public awareness campaigns
regarding child labor, and there are hotlines available for reporting
child labor abuses. The Government's Overseas Employment Bureau works
with Sri Lankan embassies to resolve problems that domestic workers encounter
in foreign countries.

Sweden (Tier 2)

Sweden is a destination country
for trafficked women from the Baltic states and Central and Eastern Europe,
with a few cases from Cuba and Colombia, for purposes of sexual exploitation.
Police officials estimate that approximately 200 to 500 women were trafficked
into Sweden, primarily from neighboring countries, during 2000.

The Government of Sweden does
not yet fully meet the minimum standards; however, the Government is making
significant efforts to combat trafficking. The law does not prohibit specifically
the act of trafficking, but there are a range of other relevant laws that
are being used to prosecute traffickers. Under related laws, the penalty
for trafficking is roughly commensurate with those for rape or sexual
assault. The Government has successfully prosecuted seven trafficking
cases since 1998. The sentences for the traffickers ranged from 1 to 6
years' imprisonment. Victims do not receive temporary residence, and most
are deported immediately; however, they rarely are detained and never
jailed. Local social service offices give emergency help to victims when
needed. The Government funds NGOs that are combating violence against
women through education and shelters. The Government also provides funding
to NGOs and international organizations that combat trafficking
worldwide. The Government is providing specialized anti-trafficking training
to its peacekeepers in the Balkans.

Thailand (Tier 2)

Thailand is a destination,
source, and transit country for trafficked persons. Victims are primarily
young women and girls who are trafficked for sexual exploitation, although
a significant number of men and women are trafficked for farm, industrial
and domestic labor. The trafficking is both international and domestic.
Persons from Burma, Cambodia, and Laos are the primary trafficked persons
to Thailand. Within the country, trafficking is chiefly from the poor
North and Northeast regions to Bangkok. Women are trafficked internationally
to Japan, Taiwan, Australia, Europe, and the United States, chiefly for
sexual exploitation and, to a lesser degree, sweatshop labor. Persons
from China are trafficked through Thailand to a number of developed countries
and more prosperous neighboring countries.

The Government of Thailand
does not yet fully meet the minimum standards; however, the Government
openly admits that Thailand has a trafficking problem and is making significant
efforts to combat the problem despite resource constraints. A trafficking
in persons law provides for penalties similar to those for rape. In addition,
there are other laws that could be used against traffickers. However,
enforcement of both sets of laws has been weak. There is little training
for officials in law enforcement or in providing assistance to trafficking
victims. Corruption is pervasive, and in 2000 there was broad and blunt
public discussion of the corrosive effect of corruption on Thai society.
The Government works with NGOs. Among other efforts, it has a National
Committee on Trafficking in Women and Children with representatives of
government agencies, and both Thai and international NGOs. It cooperates
with other governments through a Mekong Sub-regional Project Committee
and has established some prevention programs and provides assistance to
victims. However, these efforts are restricted due to the lack of funding.
Victims from neighboring countries usually are deported quickly, but efforts
are made to assist underage victims.

Togo (Tier 2)

Togo is a source and transit
country for trafficked persons, primarily children. Togolese citizens
are trafficked to Cote D'Ivoire, Gabon, Nigeria, the Middle East (specifically
Saudi Arabia and Kuwait), and Europe (primarily France and Germany) for
indentured or domestic servitude, farm labor, and sexual exploitation.
Children trafficked from Burkina Faso, Ghana, Cote D'Ivoire, and Nigeria
transit Togo.

The Government of Togo does
not yet fully meet the minimum standards; however, the Government is making
significant efforts to combat trafficking despite a lack of resources.
There is no law specifically prohibiting trafficking in persons; however,
the Government can prosecute traffickers under statutes that prohibit
exploitation, transfer of children, and forced labor. The penalties are
commensurate with rape. The Government actively investigates and prosecutes
traffickers. The Government has prosecuted 50 cases against traffickers
resulting in 31 convictions. The Government cooperates with the Governments
of Ghana, Benin, and Nigeria under a Quadripartite Law allowing for expedited
extradition among those countries. The Government participates in a two-part
ILO anti-trafficking project with eight other countries (Benin, Burkina
Faso, Cameroon, Cote D'Ivoire, Nigeria, and Senegal). The Government works
with NGO's to assist victims of trafficking by providing shelter and access
to legal, medical, and psychological services and attempting to find victims
families and reunite them. The Government does not have resources to fund
NGO's and relies on foreign assistance. Victims are not detained, jailed,
deported, or prosecuted for violations of other laws.

Uganda (Tier 2)

Uganda is a source country
for trafficked persons, primarily women and children. During the past
10 years, the Lords Resistance Army (LRA) has kidnapped an estimated
5,100 Ugandan, Congolese, and Sudanese children, taken them to southern
Sudan, and forced them to become soldiers, labor and sex slaves.

The Government of Uganda does
not yet fully meet the minimum standards; however, the Government is making
significant efforts to combat trafficking in persons despite severe resource
constraints and the civil conflict with the LRA. The Criminal Code prohibits
slavery with penalties of up to 10 years imprisonment. Improved civil-military
relations in northern Uganda have helped the Ugandan People's Defense
Force (UPDF) assist victims of the LRA. Between November 2000 and January
2001, the UPDF rescued and repatriated 121 child abductees who had escaped
from the LRA. A 1999 Agreement with Sudan provides for the repatriation
of abductees, although abductee returns so far have been as a result of
escapes or UPDF rescue rather than the assistance of Sudan.The Government supports universal primary education programs as
a preventative measure against trafficking. The Government has established
protected camps garrisoned by the UPDF to prevent abductions; while security
has increased enough that villages are now returning to their previous
home areas, the parents leave the children in the camps to ensure their
education and safety.The Government is unable
to offer financial assistance to the to NGO's providing assistance to
victims of trafficking but does cooperate with these NGO's. The UPDF escorts
rescued abductees to NGO facilities which then give physical assistance
and counseling to the children and their families so that the children
can be reintegrated into society.

Ukraine (Tier 2)

Ukraine is a major source
and transit country for women and girls trafficked abroad for the purposes
of sexual exploitation. The women primarily are trafficked into Central
and Western Europe, the United States, and the Middle East.

The Government of Ukraine
does not meet the minimum standards and is limited by lack of financial
resources and low-level corruption; however, Ukraine has increased efforts
to combat trafficking over the past 3 years, and has partially implemented
its anti-trafficking action plan. In 1998 Parliament amended the criminal
code to make trafficking in human beings a crime punishable by imprisonment
for 8 years and confiscation of property. Since then the Government has
brought 37 criminal cases against suspected traffickers. The court sentenced
a Greek man to 7 years and two Ukrainian women to 5 years in prison for
trafficking. However, most of the cases ended in acquittals, and those
convicted received only small fines. Ukraine relies on special police
units trained by both the Government and NGO's to investigate trafficking
cases, but they have had limited impact thus far. The Government established
three business centers to assist unemployed women in Ukraine, and works
with Ukrainian diplomatic missions to improve responses to Ukrainian trafficking
victims abroad. The Government does not support any other prevention or
protection programs. Ukraine cooperates in international investigations
of trafficking.

Vietnam (Tier 2)

Vietnam is both a country
of origin and transit for cross-border trafficking of Vietnamese women
to Cambodia and China for sexual exploitation and arranged marriages,
as well as for women from third countries transiting to various destinations
within and outside Asia. Some Vietnamese women have also been trafficked
to other Asian and western countries, including the United States. Women
and children are also trafficked within Vietnam, usually from rural to
urban areas.

The Government of Vietnam
does not yet fully meet the minimum standards; however, the Government
is making significant efforts to combat the problem. While the Government
has taken some steps to combat trafficking, resources are limited. Corruption
is a serious problem at all levels in Vietnam and some officials may be
involved in the flow of overseas workers. Trafficking in women and children
is prohibited in various statutes, with penalties of up to a maximum of
20 years in prison. These penalties are stiffer than for rape convictions.
There is no law that specifically prohibits trafficking in men; however,
existing laws could be used to prosecute traffickers who recruit or send
men abroad to work for "illegitimate profits" or illegal purposes. Statistics
on prosecutions under the various statutes are not readily available,
but estimates from various sources indicate over 200 prosecutions, with
a high rate of conviction. One analysis of the court system in general
found that more than 95 percent of the persons who are charged with a
crime are convicted. Prevention efforts are focused on educating at-risk
populations, including mass media campaigns, vocational training, and
alleviation of poverty. Vietnamese authorities focus on protecting and
providing services to Vietnamese citizens in danger of being trafficked.
Vietnamese police have vigorously pursued such cases when drawn to their
attention. Some returnees are housed in rehabilitation centers before
returning to their villages. Vietnam is cooperating with NGO's and other
governments. For example, Vietnam has signed an agreement with Australia
stating their mutual commitment to combating trafficking in women and
children.

[End]

V. Country Narratives - Tier 3

Albania (Tier 3)

Albania is a source and transit
country for trafficking. Trafficking victims are mostly women from Albania,
Moldova, and Romania who are trafficked for sexual exploitation to Italy,
Greece, Western Europe, Belgium, and the Netherlands.

The Government of Albania
does not meet the minimum standards, and has not yet made significant
efforts to combat trafficking. It has taken steps to do so, but its efforts
are limited by a lack of resources and corruption at all levels of government.
The Penal Code prohibits trafficking in persons, and penalties are commensurate
with those of rape. The Government investigates and prosecutes trafficking,
and there were 144 prosecutions in 2000 for violating the trafficking
law. The Government is working to establish an anti-trafficking center
in Vlora. The Government provides minimal support for small-scale anti-trafficking
education, but otherwise supports no prevention or protection programs.
Foreign victims who agree to testify are exempt from deportation until
the conclusion of criminal proceedings. The Government does not assist
repatriated Albanian victims.

Bahrain (Tier 3)

Bahrain is a destination country
for trafficked persons. There are reports that some foreign workers are
recruited for employment on the basis of fraudulent contracts and then
forced into domestic servitude or sexual exploitation. Workers from the
Philippines, Ethiopia, India, Russia, and Belarus have reported being
forced into domestic servitude and sexual exploitation.

The Government of Bahrain
does not meet the minimum standards and the Government has not yet made
significant efforts to combat trafficking. The Government does not recognize
that trafficking is a problem because expatriate workers travel to Bahrain
voluntarily. The law does not specifically prohibit trafficking in persons;
however, there are other statutes that can be used to prosecute traffickers
forcing women into sexual exploitation. Labor laws do not protect foreign
workers. The Government is not devoting resources to combat trafficking
in persons. Victims of trafficking may seek assistance from their embassies.
The Government does not provide assistance to victims. The Government
has signed and ratified the following international instruments: ILO Convention
182, the Sale of Children Protocol and the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress,
and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children Supplementing
the UN Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime.

Belarus (Tier 3)

Belarus is both a source and
a transit country for trafficked persons, primarily women. Young women
are trafficked through Belarus from Russia, Ukraine, and Lithuania to
other counties in Europe, primarily Germany and Poland.

The Government of Belarus
does not meet the minimum standards due to a lack of resources and corruption.
The new Criminal Code, which went into effect January 1, 2001, penalizes
trafficking in persons for the purpose of sexual or other kinds of exploitation,
as well as the hiring of persons for sexual or other exploitation. The
penalty for trafficking is substantially less than that for rape or forcible
sexual assault. At the time of this report, there was one open criminal
case, and 12 cases had been proven. In theory the Government has programs
to assist victims of trafficking and provide witnesses; however, in practice
this does not occur. Victims are detained and/or jailed until the investigation
identifies them as victims, and can be prosecuted for violations of other
laws. The Ministry of Internal Affairs conducted one seminar on trafficking
in October 1999 and another in April 2000.

Bosnia-Herzegovina (Tier
3)

Bosnia is a major destination
and transit country for women trafficked for the purpose of sexual exploitation
from Eastern Europe and the New Independent States, especially Moldova,
Romania, and Ukraine.

Neither the national government
of Bosnia, nor the entity governments of the Federation and the Republic
of Srpska meet the minimum standards for combating trafficking in persons.
The international organizations and the NGO's present in Bosnia, with
the participation of many Bosnian officials, conduct most of the anti-trafficking
efforts in the country. The central governments ability to deter
trafficking is limited by budgetary constraints, minimal border controls,
inadequate criminal laws, and corruption. Some police and judicial authorities
tacitly accept or actively facilitate trafficking. Neither of the entities
has a law that specifically prohibits trafficking, although prosecutors
can use charges of assault, provision of false documents, procuring and
promoting prostitution. The courts have convicted at least two traffickers.
Bosnia has an inter-agency anti-trafficking task force, which conducted
a raid in the spring of 2001 on brothels suspected of having trafficking
victims. Bosnia supports no prevention or protection measures and routinely
has charged victims with prostitution and illegal residency before deporting
them.

Burma (Tier 3)

Burma is a country of origin
for trafficking of persons, primarily of women and girls, to Thailand
and other countries as factory workers and household servants, and for
sexual exploitation. There also is internal trafficking of women and girls
from areas of extreme poverty to areas where prostitution is common. Men
and boys reportedly are trafficked to other countries, primarily to Thailand,
for sexual exploitation and for other purposes, but this appears to be
a small percentage of the overall flow. In addition to Thailand, Burmese
adults are trafficked to China, Taiwan, Malaysia, Singapore, and Japan.
While most observers believe the number of victims is at least several
thousand per year, there are no reliable statistics available on the total
number of trafficked persons.

The Government does not meet
the minimum standards, and has not yet made significant efforts to combat
the worsening problem of trafficking in persons. The Government, while
recently acknowledging that the problem of international trafficking exists,
has not publicly acknowledged the magnitude of the problem. Corruption
among local government officials is widespread and reportedly includes
complicity in the trafficking of persons. The Government for years has
systematically used forced labor for the development of infrastructure
and state-run agricultural and commercial ventures, for forced portering
to move military equipment and supplies throughout the country, and for
mine clearing activities. The Government has not committed sufficient
resources or demonstrated the political will to combat trafficking. Moreover,
it has not collected meaningful data on the incidence of trafficking,
made any serious effort to arrest or prosecute traffickers, or facilitated
the repatriation of trafficking victims. There are no anti-trafficking
laws. The Government does not work with international NGOs or neighboring
governments to address the problem.

Democratic Republic of
the Congo (Tier 3)

The Democratic Republic of
the Congo (DRC) is a significant country of origin for trafficking in
persons. Women are trafficked to Europe, mainly France and Belgium, for
sexual exploitation, and boys are trafficked by Ugandan troops and rebel
groups for forced and voluntary military service. Ugandan and Rwandan
soldiers, in addition to Congolese Rally for Democracy (RCD) rebels, reportedly
abducted many Congolese women and girls from the villages they raided.
Insurgent groups from neighboring countries have abducted a number of
Congolese children to be labor or sex slaves, or to serve in the military.

The Government of the DRC
does not meet the minimum standards; the Government has not yet made significant
efforts to combat trafficking, due in part to lack of resources or information
and unwillingness to acknowledge there is a significant problem, and because
much of the country's trafficking problem occurs in areas controlled by
rebel groups and foreign armies. There are no anti-trafficking laws; however,
laws against unlawful imprisonment and running brothels could be used
against traffickers. The Government has not vigorously investigated or
prosecuted trafficking cases. There is no known complicity in trafficking
by government officials. The Government has no resources for training;
however, it permits training of officials by the Government of France
and by NGO's. The Government does not coordinate with other countries
on trafficking issues and has no funding for protection services. Victims
are not prosecuted. The Government has signed but not ratified ILO Convention
182 on the Worst Forms of Child Labor and the protocols on sale of the
children and trafficking.

Gabon (Tier 3)

Gabon is a destination country
for trafficked persons, primarily children from west and central Africa
(specifically Benin and Togo) for domestic servitude. Women and children
are also trafficked to Gabon for sexual exploitation.

The Government of Gabon does
not meet the minimum standards and has not yet made significant efforts
to combat trafficking, due in part to resource constraints. The Government
acknowledges that trafficking in persons is a problem, but is limited
by a lack of resources and porous borders. The law does not specifically
prohibit trafficking; however, traffickers can be prosecuted under laws
prohibiting exploitation, abandonment and mistreatment of women. The Government
does not actively investigate cases of trafficking and has not prosecuted
any cases against traffickers. The Government has an interministerial
committee comprised of representatives from the Labor, Justice, Foreign
Affairs and Family Ministries charged with anti-trafficking programs.
The Government does not support programs aimed at the prevention of trafficking,
and has neither a policy nor resources to provide assistance to trafficking
victims. Trafficking victims are not detained or deported. The Government
has an informal cooperative relationship with NGO's providing services
to victims. The Government cooperates informally with other governments
on trafficking cases. Gabon hosted a sub-regional seminar on child trafficking
in 2000. In January 2001, the Government sponsored a conference for local
officials and NGO's on combating trafficking in persons. The Government
ratified ILO Convention 182.

Greece (Tier 3)

Greece is a transit and destination
country for trafficking. Most victims are women who are trafficked for
sexual exploitation through Greece to Western Europe from Ukraine, Russia,
Bulgaria, Albania, and Yugoslavia.

The Government of Greece does
not meet the minimum standards; and has not yet made significant efforts
to combat trafficking. The Government has established an inter-ministerial
committee for trafficking in human beings, but has not yet acknowledged
publicly that trafficking is a problem. There is no law that addresses
all forms of severe trafficking, although the Penal Code prohibits slavery,
pandering, and pimping. Trafficking cases rarely are brought to trial,
and sentences are light. Corruption among police and border control is
a major problem; the police bureau of internal affairs has successfully
investigated a number of cases of police misbehavior. The Government signed
the UN Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime and the Protocol
to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women
and Children. The Government has not sponsored any significant protection
or prevention efforts, other than a hotline for battered women and limited
funding for the International Organization for Migration to assist in
the voluntary return of victims in 2000. Greek officials met with German,
Italian, and Albanian ministers in the summer of 2000 to discuss creating
a regional center to handle trafficking in persons. Greece maintains tight
controls on non-EU citizens' entry.

Indonesia (Tier 3)

Indonesia is a source country
for domestic and internationally trafficked persons, primarily young women
and girls. Indonesians are trafficked to Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan,
Malaysia, Brunei, the Persian Gulf countries, Australia, Korea, and Japan;
and there are reports that they are trafficked to Europe and the United
States. The victims of domestic and international trafficking are targeted
for sexual exploitation and forced labor. Some observers estimate that
20 percent of Indonesias 5 million migrant laborers have been trafficked.
Indonesia is also a transit country for alien smuggling to Australia from
various countries, including China, Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan, although
it is not clear how many of these persons actually are trafficked.

The Government of Indonesia
does not meet the minimum standards and has not yet made significant efforts
to combat trafficking; however, officials realize trafficking exists,
that it is worsening, and that the Government must confront the problem.
Indonesia is undergoing a transition to democracy and is handicapped by
weak legislation and law enforcement, inadequate government institutions,
and widespread corruption. Considerable circumstantial evidence indicates
that some civilian, military, and police officials are involved in trafficking.
The Ministry of Womens Empowerment (MOWE) is to coordinate a national
anti-trafficking council comprised of both governmental and non-governmental
entities. There is no specific law that prohibits trafficking in persons.
Although related laws can be used against traffickers, the maximum penalties
are significantly less than those for rape. NGOs actively provide
assistance to returned victims, but they do not receive funding from the
Government. In the past, government cooperation with NGOs was poor,
but it has increased significantly. For example, NGOs and provincial
government authorities have taken joint action to remove children from
offshore fishing platforms in Sumatra. The MOWE operates help desks at
international airports for returning victims and has sought NGO assistance
for these. In addition, government officials from various agencies have
begun to meet with NGOs to discuss practical measures for countering
trafficking.

Israel (Tier 3)

Israel is a destination country
for trafficked persons, primarily women. Women are trafficked to Israel
from the New Independent States (specifically Moldova, Russia, and Ukraine),
Brazil, Turkey, South Africa, and some countries in Asia.

The Government of Israel does
not meet the minimum standards for combating trafficking in persons, and
has not yet made significant efforts to combat the problem, although it
has begun to take some steps to do so. The Government recognizes that
trafficking in persons is a problem, but devotes limited resources to
combating it. NGO's and some concerned government officials have criticized
the Government for failing to undertake vigorous efforts against trafficking,
especially given the occasional violent methods of traffickers and the
significant numbers of women who are trafficked into the country. In June
2000, the Knesset amended a 1997 prostitution law to prohibit the buying
or selling of persons, or forcing a person to leave their country of residence
to engage in prostitution. The penalties for rape and violation of the
1997 prostitution law require roughly a doubling of the sentence if the
victim is a minor. The Government has convicted one trafficker under the
new legislation. The Government has provided training to immigration officials
at Ben Gurion airport. The Government has not formally begun cooperation
with other governments on trafficking cases, but has worked with Ukrainian
officials on one trafficking case.The Government
has not conducted anti-trafficking information campaigns or other efforts
aimed at prevention. Little protection is provided to trafficked persons.
Victims of trafficking are detained, jailed in a special women's prison
separate from other female prisoners, and deported. Victims who are willing
to testify against traffickers may be granted relief from immediate deportation,
but the Government does not actively encourage victims to raise charges
against traffickers. Israeli NGO's have encouraged victims to take legal
action. Some victims have accused individual police officers of complicity
with brothel owners and traffickers. The Government provides limited funding
to NGO's forassistance to victims.

Kazakhstan (Tier 3)

Kazakhstan is a country of
origin and transit for trafficked persons, primarily young women for prostitution.
Women are trafficked to a number of countries including the United Arab
Emirates, Greece, Turkey, Israel, and South Korea. Forced laborers from
neighboring Kyrgyzstan also are trafficked to Kazakhstan.

The Government of Kazakhstan
does not meet the minimum standards to combat trafficking in persons and
is limited by lack of resources and difficulty monitoring its borders.
The Government recognizes trafficking as a problem. The issue has been
left primarily to NGOs and international organizations. Corruption
at the lower levels of law enforcement may contribute to the problem,
and the Government is investigating border officials suspected of complicity
with traffickers. There is no specific law on trafficking. Investigations
are conducted under a criminal code article prohibiting recruitment for
sexual or other exploitation through deception, which is difficult to
prosecute since deception must be proved. Penalties are commensurate with
the penalties for rape or sexual assault. There is no assistance to victims
or mechanism for civil court action. Four trafficking-related investigations
were ongoing at the time of this report. In addition, the authorities
indicted members of a trafficking ring in June 2000, but the case has
not yet come to trial. In 1999 the Governments National Commission
on Womens and Family Issues declined to include trafficking in its
list of priorities. However, together with the International Organization
for Migration, it held a conference on trafficking in November 2000 and
then convinced the Prime Minister to establish an inter-agency commission
on trafficking, which has not yet been assigned a chairperson.

Lebanon (Tier 3)

Lebanon is a destination country
for internationally trafficked persons, primarily women. Women from Ethiopia
travel to Lebanon, in the belief that they will work as domestics and
have reported being forced into domestic servitude and sexual exploitation.
Women from the New Independent States (specifically Russia, Ukraine, and
Moldova) have reported being forced into sexual exploitation.

The Government of Lebanon
does not meet the minimum standards and has not yet made significant efforts
to combat trafficking in persons. Trafficking in persons is not perceived
by the Government to be a problem in Lebanon. There are no laws that specifically
prohibit trafficking in persons, slavery, or exploitation, although the
law prohibits unlicensed prostitution. The Government has not signed or
ratified ILO Convention 182, the Sale of Children Protocol, the UN Convention
Against Transnational Organized Crime or the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress,
and Punish Trafficking in Persons. Labor violations and other mistreatment
against third country nationals working as domestics, some of whom are
reportedly trafficking victims, occur on a wide scale. Third country nationals
are excluded from the Labor Code and therefore are not afforded legal
protection. The Government does not provide assistance to victims of trafficking
or to NGO's.

Malaysia (Tier 3)

Malaysia is both a source
and destination country for trafficked persons. Young women from primarily
Indonesia, Thailand, and the Philippines are trafficked into Malaysia
for sexual exploitation. Small numbers of young Malaysian women, primarily
ethnic Chinese, are trafficked to Japan, Canada, the United States and
Taiwan, also for sexual exploitation.

The Government of Malaysia
does not yet meet the minimum standards, and faces serious impediments
to taking significant steps to combat the problem of trafficking in persons.
Efforts to date have focused on eradicating prostitution and illegal immigration.
There is no law that specifically prohibits trafficking in persons, although
laws that might be used against traffickers have penalties that can be
more severe than those for sexual assault. The Government considers trafficking
to be an illegal immigration and prostitution problem and treats foreign
victims of trafficking as illegal immigrants. The Government has not prosecuted
any cases against traffickers. There is no evidence of complicity in trafficking
by government authorities; however, there have been allegations of some
low-level corruption. There are active NGOs that provide assistance
to trafficking victims. They maintain one shelter that provides counseling
and medical and legal referrals, but the Government does not appear to
support financially the work of NGOs. The Government sometimes sends
trafficked women who have been victims of physical abuse to either an
NGO shelter or to a shelter for battered women. Repatriated Malaysian
victims are eligible for public assistance and at least one community-based
organization offers services such as counseling to victims. The difficulty
of monitoring the countrys maritime borders with Indonesia and the
Philippines, two major sources of trafficked persons, has hampered the
Governments efforts to combat trafficking.

Pakistan (Tier 3)

Pakistan is a source, transit,
and destination country for an increasing number of trafficked persons.
Women and children are trafficked for purposes of sexual exploitation,
bonded labor, and domestic servitude to the Middle East. Pakistan is a
source country for young boys who are kidnapped or bought and sent to
work as camel jockeys in the Gulf States. Women and children are trafficked
from East Asian countries and Bangladesh through Pakistan to the Middle
East. Pakistan serves as a destination point for women who are trafficked
from Bangladesh, Burma, Afghanistan, and the Central Asian States. There
also is evidence of trafficking within Pakistan.

The Government of Pakistan
does not yet fully meet the minimum standards and the Government has not
yet made significant efforts to combat trafficking, due to pervasive corruption,
lack of information and data on the problem, and a severe lack of resources.
The Constitution prohibits slavery and forced labor, and asserts the inviolability
of dignity of man and the equality of all citizens; however, current domestic
law does not specifically address the issue of trafficking in persons.
The Hudood ordinances criminalize extramarital sexual relations and place
a burden on female rape victims because testimony of female victims and
witnesses carry no legal weight. If a woman brings charges of rape to
court and the case cannot be proved, the court automatically takes the
rapes victims allegations as confession of her own complicity and
acknowledgment of consensual adultery. These laws discourage trafficking
victims from bringing forward charges, and many trafficking victims are
detained, jailed, and prosecuted for violations of Hudood ordinances and
illegal status. The Government does not provide direct assistance to victims
but does provide legal assistance and funding for NGO's that assist victims.

Qatar (Tier 3)

Qatar is a destination country
for trafficked persons. Boys are trafficked from Pakistan and Bangladesh
to Qatar to work as camel jockeys. Women from East Asia, South Asia, the
former Soviet Union, and Africa travel to Qatar to work as domestics and
have reported being forced into domestic servitude and sexual exploitation.

The Government of Qatar does
not meet the minimum standards and has not yet made significant efforts
to combat trafficking. The law prohibits trafficking in persons and prostitution.
However, the Government does not actively investigate or prosecute traffickers.
The Government repatriates victims of trafficking upon discovering their
presence. The Government does not provide assistance to victims, nor does
it support public awareness campaigns.

Romania (Tier 3)

Romania is primarily a country
of origin and transit for trafficking women to Turkey, Italy, Greece,
and the Balkans for sexual exploitation. To a lesser extent, men are trafficked
to Greece for agricultural labor.

The Government of Romania
does not meet the minimum standards but has recently begun high-level
efforts to combat trafficking. Due to a lack of resources and low-level
corruption, many local Government officials regard trafficking as a low
priority and treat victims as social outcasts. Although Romania has no
specific anti-trafficking law, other laws prohibit elements of trafficking,
such as pimping and rape. In April 2001, the Government appointed a national
coordinator to combat trafficking, and a recently created anti-trafficking
squad has arrested three traffickers. In addition to sponsoring a regional
international conference to combat trafficking in May 2001, the Government
also established an interministerial commission to draft an anti-trafficking
law. The Government provided the International Organization for Migration
with a location for a shelter in Bucharest, but it does not provide direct
assistance to victims.

Russia (Tier 3)

Russia is primarily a source
country for women trafficked for prostitution to Western Europe, and to
a lesser extent, the Middle East, North America, and North Asia. Trafficking
also occurs within Russia.

The Government of Russia does
not meet the minimum standards. It has done little to combat the problem
of trafficking, primarily due to lack of resources, training and adequate
legislation. The Government has made a dramatic about face in the last
year and has recently acknowledged trafficking as a problem. Local and
regional governments vary in their response, some regions make efforts
to respond to complaints and employ creative legal means to try to prosecute
traffickers, while some still are reluctant to admit the problem or to
devote scarce resources to combating it. Russia has no legislation specifically
criminalizing trafficking of adults; and although the penal code prohibits
aspects of trafficking, prosecuting traffickers for a criminal offence
with the existing code is difficult. Many officials argue that the problem
is beyond their purview because the victims leave Russia voluntarily for
economic reasons and because the violence and abuse of trafficking in
women usually occurs outside Russias borders, leaving little to
prosecute within Russia aside from fraud. However, law enforcement officials
do investigate and prosecute trafficking in children. Trafficking victims
have found assistance in NGO and government-sponsored domestic violence
crisis centers. Otherwise, the Government sponsors no trafficking prevention
or protection programs. The Government cooperates internationally on trafficking
cases and is working closely with the U.S. and other countries to develop
its expertise against trafficking. Russia was one of the first signatories
to the UN Convention Against Transnational Crime and its Anti-Trafficking
Protocol.

Saudi Arabia (Tier 3)

Saudi Arabia is a destination
country for trafficked persons. Millions of expatriates come to Saudi
Arabia to work on the basis of contracts with their employers stipulating
their salaries, work conditions, and job responsibilities. Some employers
do not fulfill the terms of the contracts; a limited number of employees
are then prevented from leaving their workplace. Workers from Bangladesh,
Thailand, India, the Philippines, Indonesia, and the Horn of Africa have
reported being forced into domestic servitude and sexual exploitation.

The Government of Saudi Arabia
does not meet the minimum standards and has not yet made significant efforts
to combat trafficking, although the Government is attempting to reduce
the number of expatriate workers in the country. The Government does not
believe that trafficking is a problem because expatriate workers travel
to Saudi Arabia voluntarily. The Government formally abolished slavery
by royal decree in 1962; however, there are no laws specifically related
to trafficking. The Government has an extensive system of labor courts
that enforce the terms of work contracts. However, some workers are exempt
from labor law, including farmers, herdsmen, and domestic servants. Saudi
sponsors exercise considerable control over their employees, and are required
by law to hold the passports of their employees. A sponsors permission
is required for an employee to leave the country and travel within Saudi
Arabia. Maids who are victims of trafficking may attempt to seek assistance
from their embassies, several of which provide safe houses where maids
may stay while awaiting a resolution of their cases. The Government also
operates safe houses for domestic employees. Domestic servants who attempt
to flee their place of employment are sometimes detained and often deported.

South Korea (Tier 3)

South Korea is a country of
origin and transit for trafficking in persons. Young female Koreans are
trafficked primarily for sexual exploitation, mainly to the United States,
but also to other Western countries and Japan. Female aliens from many
countries, primarily Chinese women, are trafficked through Korea to the
United States and many other parts of the world. In addition to trafficking
through the air, much transit traffic occurs in South Korean territorial
waterways by ship.

While South Korea is a leader
in the region on human rights and democracy generally, the Government
has done little to combat this relatively new and worsening problem of
trafficking in persons. Although it does prosecute alien smuggling activities
such as visa fraud and possession or sale of fraudulent civil documents,
there are no laws that specifically address trafficking. There are statutes
against kidnapping and sale or purchase of sexual services with a juvenile,
and maximum penalties for these are commensurate with those for rape.
Although corruption occurs, there is no evidence that government officials
are involved in trafficking in persons. Aliens are treated as immigration
violators and deported. No government assistance is available for trafficking
victims or to support NGO's involved in assisting trafficking victims.

Sudan (Tier 3)

Sudan is a both a destination
country for trafficked persons and a country in which internal trafficking
in persons is widespread. Internal trafficking in Sudan generally is initiated
by government-affiliated militias or raiders as part of a strategy against
the rebel forces of the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA). The militias
or raiders abduct women and children as remuneration for their services
and keep some of those abducted for domestic servitude, forced labor,
or as sex slaves; others are given to relatives and fellow tribespeople
for similar purposes. In addition to the slavery perpetrated by Sudanese
actors, during the last 10 years the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA), a Ugandan
rebel group, has kidnapped Ugandan children, taken them to southern Sudan,
and forced them to become soldiers or sex slaves.

The Government of Sudan does
not meet the minimum standards to combat trafficking in persons and the
Government has not yet made significant efforts to combat trafficking.
The Government tolerates, and sometimes encourages, such activities because
they are seen as contributing to the Governments war effort by providing
compensation to raiders and militias for protecting troops and by disrupting
and terrorizing southern communities. The Government of Sudan in the past
has supported the LRA, although the Government agreed to cease supporting
the LRA in December 1999 and has taken steps in this direction. There
are no laws specifically against trafficking. Laws against rape, abduction,
and unlawful detention are part of the 1991 Penal Code, but the Government
has made no efforts to identify or prosecute traffickers or others who
have committed criminal acts against abductees. In 1996 the Government
established the Special Commission to Investigate Slavery and Disappearance
in response to a resolution passed by the UN General Assembly in 1995.
The Commission technically still is functioning but has yet to produce
a final report. In May 1998, the Government formed the Committee for the
Eradication of the Abduction of Women and Children (CEAWAC). CEWAC oversees
traditional chiefs who attempt to identify and locate abducted individuals.
Since the creation of CEAWAC, about 340 abducted individuals have been
returned to their homes. The Government has expended limited resources
in identifying abductees and placing them in relocation centers or with
relatives prior to their repatriation.

Turkey (Tier 3)

Turkey is a destination and
transit country for trafficking of persons. Women and girls, mostly from
Romania, Russia, Ukraine, Moldova, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia, are
trafficked to or through Turkey.

The Government of Turkey does
not meet the minimum standards and has not yet made significant efforts
to combat trafficking; however, the Government does acknowledge a problem
of trafficking in the country and has taken some steps in response. There
is no specific law prohibiting trafficking; however, prosecutors can use
various provisions of the Penal Code against incitement to prostitution,
rape, compulsory labor, child labor, and document fraud. According to
government statistics, the authorities arrested 850 members of organized
gangs for trafficking during 2000. Statistics on prosecutions are unavailable
because there is no single statute involved. The Government does not actively
support prevention or protection programs, and there are no NGOs
working on the issue. The Government generally deports victims, along
with other illegal aliens, within a few weeks of their detention. Law
enforcement officials cooperated with film teams from Ukraine and Moldova
in making educational documentaries designed to discourage women and girls
from those countries from being lured to Turkey by traffickers. The Turkish
National Police receive special training, funded by the EU and administered
by UNHCR, in areas such as visa fraud, passport forgery, and illegal entries.
The Government cooperates with other countries and international organizations
in the investigation and prosecution of trafficking. The Government has
signed various conventions on trafficking, including the UN Convention
Against Transnational Crime Protocol on trafficking, which is not yet
ratified, and ratified ILO Convention 182, in early 2001. Turkey actively
participates in the Stability Pact Working Group on Trafficking.

United Arab Emirates (Tier
3)

United Arab Emirates (UAE)
is a destination country for trafficked persons. Boys are trafficked from
Pakistan and Bangladesh for use as camel jockeys in UAE's camel racing
industry. Women are trafficked from the New Independent States, Africa,
Iran, and Eastern Europe for sexual exploitation. Men and women from South
and East Asia travel to UAE to work as domestics and have reported being
forced into indentured or domestic servitude or sexual exploitation.

The Government of United Arab
Emirates does not meet the minimum standards and has not yet made significant
efforts to combat trafficking in persons. There is no law specifically
prohibiting trafficking in persons; however, traffickers can be punished
under laws prohibiting child smuggling and prostitution. Forced or compulsory
labor is illegal, and labor regulations prohibit the employment of persons
under 15 years of age. The Government has arrested, detained, and deported
those involved in child smuggling and prostitution. The Government prohibited
the use of children under the age of 15 as camel jockeys in 1993, but
the Camel Racing Association, not the Government, is responsible for enforcing
these rules. The authorities have prosecuted foreign child smugglers,
but do not investigate citizens involved in smuggling. The authorities,
working together with foreign governments and NGO's, have provided shelter
for and assistance with the repatriation of underage camel jockeys. Victims
of trafficking may seek shelter in their embassies; the Government of
UAE does not provide assistance to victims. Women arrested as prostitutes
are detained, deported, and blacklisted from reentering the country. The
Government restricts granting visas to UAE to single women who are 40
years of age and younger.

The Federal Republic of
Yugoslavia (Tier 3)

NOTE: The report on the Federal
Republic of Yugoslavia is discussed in three separate sections on Serbia,
Kosovo, and Montenegro and addresses the trafficking situations in each
of these entities. Since federal authority was exercised effectively only
over the Republic of Serbia throughout the year, the human rights situations
in Kosovo and Montenegro are dealt with in separate sections following
this report.

The Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
is a transit and destination country for women trafficked from Eastern
Europe, especially Romania, and the New Independent States, including
Moldova, Ukraine, and Russia. According to an International Helsinki Federation
for Human Rights report, women often are trafficked to Belgrade, from
where they are then taken to other parts of Serbia, Kosovo, Montenegro,
Bosnia and Herzegovina, Italy, Greece, Germany, the Netherlands, and other
Western European countries, often for sexual exploitation.

Serbia is also a source country
for women trafficked to Italy, Greece, Cyprus, Germany, and the Netherlands.
There are reports that Roma women and children also are trafficked to
Italy, where the females are used in the sex industry and the male children
for begging and stealing. The Yugoslav Government, the Serbian Government,
and the Montenegrin Government, do not meet the minimum standards and
are not making significant efforts to combat trafficking. In Serbia no
specific law prohibits trafficking; however, the criminal code prohibits
the "illegal transport of others" across borders for "lucrative purposes,"
and recruiting, inducing, inciting, or luring females into prostitution.
Penalties range from 3 months to 5 years in prison and the confiscation
of property, and 10 years if the victim is underage. There were no reports
of individuals prosecuted for trafficking. The Government provides for
no prevention or protection measures. A very small number of NGO's deal
with trafficking; public awareness of the problem is low. While the regime
of former President Slobodan Milosevic showed little interest in addressing
the trafficking problem, the current Yugoslav and Serbian Republic authorities
are cooperating to reform border policing in order to combat trafficking.

Montenegro is a transit point
for trafficked women and children. Some reports also indicate that it
is a destination point. Women are trafficked mainly from Moldova, Romania,
Ukraine, Bosnia, and Russia, often through Belgrade and on to Western
European countries and Kosovo. Some women also are trafficked through
Montenegro to Albania and then on to Western European countries. There
have been allegations, denied by the Montenegrin Government, that some
Montenegrin authorities have colluded in trafficking. The Montenegrin
Criminal Code does not specifically address trafficking in persons. The
Montenegrin Government has appointed an official coordinator for trafficking
issues, and has adopted an action plan, which includes the organization
of special police teams trained in dealing with trafficking and victims
of violence.

The U.N. Interim Administration
Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), which administers Kosovo under U.N. Security
Council Resolution 1244, is aware of the serious problems that exist in
Kosovo concerning trafficking and is working to conduct anti-trafficking
efforts.